Oliver Bearman caused a red flag during the final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix after crashing into the barriers with less than 15 minutes remaining.
The Haas driver had been running 13th on the timesheets and was looking to improve his pace ahead of the crucial qualifying session. However, his preparations were cut short when he lost control of his car at Turn 3 and slammed into the barriers rear-first.
The impact caused extensive damage to the rear of the Haas, leaving the team with a major repair job before qualifying. Marshals quickly waved the red flags to allow the damaged car to be recovered and the track to be cleared.
Speaking over team radio after the incident, Bearman apologised to his crew and suggested the crash was caused by the car bottoming out over a bump in the circuit.
“Sorry guys, it’s the bottoming. I totally lost it on the bump, I’m so sorry,” he said.
Monaco’s narrow streets and uneven surface leave little room for mistakes, and Bearman became the second driver this weekend to suffer a significant crash. Earlier in the weekend, Isack Hadjar hit the barriers at Turn 16, causing substantial damage to his car.
With qualifying approaching, Haas mechanics were immediately tasked with repairing Bearman’s car in time for the next session. The incident also served as another reminder of the challenges posed by Monaco’s iconic street circuit, where even a small error can have costly consequences.