Verstappen Calls for F1 Rule Change After Bearman's 'Dangerous' Crash

Max Verstappen has called for Formula 1 to urgently address its energy deployment rules following a high-speed crash for rookie Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix, highlighting a known safety risk with current car performance differences.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores a critical and long-discussed flaw in F1's hybrid power unit era: the massive speed differential created when one car is harvesting energy (slowing dramatically) and a following car is deploying its battery (accelerating rapidly). This creates unpredictable and dangerous closing speeds in braking zones, a scenario drivers have warned about for years. With the 2026 power unit regulations on the horizon, pressure is mounting to implement a fix before a more serious accident occurs.

The details:

• Oliver Bearman's Haas suffered a heavy 50G impact at Suzuka after being caught out by Franco Colapinto's Alpine, which was harvesting energy on the approach to a corner.
• At the same moment, Bearman deployed his car's electrical energy (the "mushroom button"), creating a sudden speed difference estimated at 45-60 kph (approximately 28-37 mph).
• Bearman was seen limping after the crash and was taken to the medical center. Fortunately, X-rays revealed no fractures, only a contusion on his right knee.
• Verstappen, who experienced similar scary moments during the race, explicitly linked the need for change to safety, stating, "If it is all about safety, then it is easy to fix things... maybe we should use the word 'safety' for it, and finally make some changes."
• The problem is systemic; a car harvesting energy can appear to be "moving in the braking zone" to a faster-approaching car behind, creating a high-risk scenario for a high-speed collision.

What's next:

Verstappen's public critique adds significant weight to drivers' longstanding concerns, putting the issue squarely on the FIA's radar.

• The governing body and F1's technical working groups will likely review data from this and similar incidents to evaluate potential solutions, which could involve software adjustments to limit the performance delta in specific track sectors.
• With the sport formulating its 2026 technical regulations, this safety loophole presents a clear opportunity for a permanent fix in the next generation of cars, potentially mandating more standardized energy deployment profiles to prevent such extreme speed differences.