Colapinto warns 2026 F1 closing speeds are 'really dangerous' after Bearman crash

Alpine driver Franco Colapinto has issued a stark warning about the 'really dangerous' closing speeds between Formula 1 cars under the 2026 regulations, following Oliver Bearman's violent 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Colapinto described being a 'sitting duck' as Bearman's Haas suddenly closed at over 50 km/h faster through a high-speed corner, a scenario he says is becoming alarmingly common and risks serious accidents.

Why it matters:

The incident highlights a critical and potentially lethal flaw emerging in the new era of F1 machinery. If drivers harvesting energy become unpredictable mobile chicanes for cars on full power, it undermines both safety and the quality of racing, creating artificial and dangerous overtakes rather than genuine wheel-to-wheel battles.

The details:

• The crash occurred on Lap 22 at Suzuka's Spoon corner. Colapinto's Alpine was harvesting energy to recharge its battery, significantly reducing his speed on the curved 'straight'.
• Bearman, approximately one second behind and at full pace, suddenly encountered the slow Alpine. Despite taking evasive action, he was launched onto the grass and spun sideways into the barriers.
• Colapinto emphasized the severity of the speed delta: "It's almost like you're in an outlap and another guy is in a push... Even spinning he overtook me, so imagine the speed difference."
• This was not an isolated incident. Colapinto referenced the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, where he narrowly avoided a massive shunt with a slow Liam Lawson, who had a lack of battery power off the line.
• The core issue is the massive, unpredictable speed difference created by the 2026 power unit regulations, which can exceed 50-100 km/h on circuit sections that are not perfectly straight.

What's next:

Colapinto has directly called for the FIA to review the situation, stating these 'artificial' overtakes and dangerous closing speeds are "things to review with the FIA in the future." The governing body and teams will be under pressure to find technical or regulatory solutions—whether through adjusted energy deployment rules, driver coaching, or improved warning systems—to mitigate this inherent risk before it leads to an even more severe outcome.