Bearman calls Gasly clash a racing incident after Austin retirement

Oliver Bearman described his collision with Pierre Gasly at the United States Grand Prix as a racing incident, despite receiving a 10-second penalty for causing it. The contact left his Haas so badly damaged that the team retired the car after 24 laps.

Bearman had started 13th and reached 11th on the opening lap. His move past Gasly at Turn 13 on lap two took him into the top 10, but he sustained damage in the contact.

In his post-race account, Bearman said he had closed rapidly on the two cars ahead after the virtual safety car, helped by a strong launch and a good battery level. He said Gasly defended into Turn 12 before he attacked on the inside at Turn 13.

Bearman acknowledged that Gasly had left some room, but felt it amounted to only half a car's width and that he was entitled to more. He said he had not lost control and had climbed the kerb trying to avoid contact. “In my view, it was a racing incident,” he said.

He felt the damage had already ruined his race and that the penalty compounded the setback. After losing positions, he pitted for hard tyres on lap 13, then for mediums on lap 22, when he served the 10-second penalty.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu believed Bearman had the speed to fight for ninth or tenth without the damage.

Bearman said he did not regret going for the move. He argued that Haas was not always quick enough to score on merit and that, at this stage of the season, it needed aggression and some luck to take points.