Oliver Bearman was visibly distressed after a high-speed collision at the Japanese Grand Prix. Following a loss of control, Bearman urgently signaled for assistance from the race marshals while still in his Formula 1 car’s cockpit.
Two marshals helped Bearman walk after he was removed from the Haas car, showing signs of significant discomfort. He limped noticeably and eventually collapsed behind a barrier, holding his right lower leg and ankle, prompting the dispatch of the medical car.
Bearman was swiftly taken to the circuit medical center for further evaluation. Haas later confirmed that X-rays revealed no fractures, only a bruise on his right knee. The incident led to a delay in the Grand Prix to recover the damaged Haas car and repair the barrier it struck.
The race resumed with Kimi Antonelli leading the restart on lap 28, benefiting from strategic timing as his teammate George Russell had just pitted. Antonelli maintained his lead, with Oscar Piastri in second place, although McLaren began to struggle.
Antonelli’s bid for victory received a boost from Lewis Hamilton, who overtook Russell to claim third place and put pressure on his former Mercedes colleague. Russell faced more challenges with deployment issues, dropping further down the order as Charles Leclerc passed him.
Piastri held on to second place ahead of Hamilton, while Lando Norris and Max Verstappen encountered difficulties advancing in sixth and eighth place, respectively. Verstappen found it challenging to overtake even a single car, highlighting the competitive nature of the race.
