Ollie Bearman: We need to get rid of lift & coast and figure out new Formula 1 between drivers

Speaking to the Up To Speed YouTube channel, Bearman explained how the incident unfolded. His comments echo concerns raised across the Formula 1 community. Multiple reports highlight growing unease about energy management and racing quality.

The 50G crash during the Japanese Grand Prix has become a key example of the current problem with the new F1 power units. Bearman believes the situation goes beyond one mistake. He sees it as a direct result of how the cars now operate.

Bearman described the moment in blunt terms: “That’s the first time in really their history or in the last however long I can remember that that two cars fighting for position have such a massive speed delta.

"That was 50 kph difference. Franco moved across in front of me to defend his position. Last year would have been absolutely on the limit but probably okay with just a 5 or 10 kph speed delta.”

Then came the key moment: “But with 50 kph, he did not leave me enough space and and I had to avoid a much much bigger crash. Basically that when he moved left, it was small, but at that speed difference, any move is is huge. So I was lucky to to not hit him. It would have been much much worse if I did.”

The 20-year-old Ferrari protege made it clear the danger was already known: “It was something we spoke about on Friday. We said between all the drivers, come on, we need to give each other a bit more respect.

“Move to defend your position with a bit more time because the speed deltas are much higher than we’ve ever had in our sport. And then two days later that happens which for me was unacceptable," insisted Bearman, who ealrier in the season likened the new F1 to a video game.

This matches the wider narrative reported by GRANDPRIX247. Drivers now deal with unpredictable closing speeds when one car deploys and another recharges. That turns small defensive moves into major risks.

Bearman did not limit the issue to driver behaviour: “We need to figure things out between drivers… but also I think there’s a few tweaks that we can do with the FIA.

He explained his mindset in the immediate aftermath of the crash at Suzuka: "I just wanted to get out quickly to show especially my family who are always watching that that I was fine. I knew it was going to hurt when I was out of control… then of course I was just thinking to get out the car as soon as possible.”

Bearman also criticised a key feature of the current rules: “I don’t think we need to flip things upside down. It’s just a few small tweaks that can hopefully. If there’s 1 tweak… I would like to get rid of lift and coast.

“If we can harvest at minus 350 kW… which is what we can’t do right now on full throttle… that can get rid of lift and coast in qualifying laps. Lift and coast on quali is one of the most counterintuitive aspects and features of these new regulations.”

“You can imagine a qualifying lap and you’re halfway down the straight and you lift off. I mean, it’s super strange," added Bearman, verifying that the current system forces drivers to manage energy instead of pushing flat out. That shift continues to draw criticism across the paddock.

Away from Suzuka, Bearman reflected on his season. His start with Haas has been consistent and competitive: “It’s definitely been a great start to the year. I’ve been really happy about that. We were the last team actually to develop in 2025… so that kind of put us on the back foot."

"We still arrived in Bahrain with a really quick car and we scored points in every race. It’s been super fun and I’m just really happy to share these experiences with the team… they’re so motivated. It’s really incredible," he added.

Looking beyond the crash in Japan and his future in Formula 1 , Bearman is clrear Ferrari remains the goal: "Of course it's my target. They’ve obviously given me a huge amount of trust… believed in me from the very beginning. I hope to one day put on the Ferrari suit… but I understand that it’s a long journey.”

For now, his focus stays on Haas. But Bearman's Suzuka crash account carries the most weight, and perhaps be a wake up call to all that this could be a miserble season. Driver safety is the elphant in the room, no matter what FIA and FOM try to spin.

It is direct, it is honest, it is detailed, and it is alarming. What Ollie decribes reinforces what has already been building across Formula 1. The drivers have spoken. Miami now becomes the next test of whether anything changes. (Quotes from Up To Speed YouTube Channel)