Ollie Bearman defends Pierre Gasly move despite Austin DNF.
Ollie Bearman and Pierre Gasly have reflected on their collision at the United States Grand Prix, with the Haas driver insisting he does not regret the move despite a penalty and a retirement. Both drivers left the Circuit of The Americas with damage after contact in the early stages of Sunday’s race.
What looked like innocuous contact at the time went on to shape the afternoon for both men. Bearman collected a 10-second penalty and eventually retired, while Gasly held on to P10 in a damaged Alpine. Speaking after the race, as reported by F1.com, each driver explained how he saw the incident. Their views on how much room was available differed, but both described the same outcome: damage to both cars and a price paid by each driver.
Bearman Lunges at Turn 13 During Early US GP Battle
The pair were on the fringes of the top 10 in the early stages of Sunday’s race at the Circuit of The Americas. Bearman, who had already made up two places on the opening lap, closed up to Gasly’s Alpine as a Virtual Safety Car period ended. With the field back up to racing speed, the Haas driver chose to attack.
Bearman lunged to the inside of Gasly through the right of Turn 13, and the pair made what looked like innocuous contact. Bearman moved ahead of the Frenchman, but the consequences of that brief touch turned out to be far larger than the moment itself suggested.
Damage and a 10-Second Penalty End Bearman’s Race
Although Bearman got ahead, he had suffered extensive damage in the collision. He also picked up a 10-second penalty for the incident, and the Haas driver eventually retired because of the damage to his car.
Bearman explained how significant the effect was on his pace. “I was losing a second a lap due to downforce and on top of that, I picked up a penalty,” he said. “In my view it was a racing incident.”
The episode is a reminder of how a seemingly small touch can have an outsized effect on a modern Formula 1 car. A damaged floor can quickly erode performance, and for a team already fighting for small margins, that can turn a promising opening phase into a lost afternoon.
Bearman Explains Why He Took the Risk
Bearman gave a detailed account of how he saw the move unfold from the cockpit. “I went up his inside, he saw me because he left space but for me it didn’t really feel like enough,” he said. “It was a bit of space but only half a car and by the time I was committed, I wasn’t disappearing.”
He continued: “So we made a bit of contact, I picked up a huge amount of damage on my car. I probably damaged Pierre’s car as well. It was a shame because I felt like I was massively penalised for it and it actually ruined my race to have that amount of damage.”
Despite the outcome, Bearman said he would not change his approach. “To be honest, I don’t regret going for the move because at this stage if we don’t do something special and get a bit lucky, be aggressive and go for it, then we’re not going to score points because we’re not fast enough to do that on merit,” he added.
Bearman admitted he needed to be aggressive because Haas are struggling to match the performance of midfield teams such as Alpine and Racing Bulls when fighting for minor points positions.
Gasly Calls the Move “A Little Optimistic”
Gasly eventually finished P10, but like Bearman he had also suffered damage in the collision. He believes it cost him any chance of battling Liam Lawson’s Racing Bulls for P9.
He said he was pleased with the result given what happened. “I’m pleased because after the contact with Ollie, we had quite a big damage on the floor,” he said. “It was a small touch honestly and I didn’t expect the floor to be that damaged following it. But considering the pace after that and the fact we managed to hold onto P10, it’s positive.”
On the move itself, the Alpine driver was measured rather than critical. “I think the overtake was a little optimistic, not crazy, but a little optimistic,” Gasly said. “Unfortunately there was this touch which cost us and cost probably 5-10 seconds of race time following it. It was not ideal, but at the same time, he tried it. It just wasn’t the cleanest move.”
What the Collision Means for Haas and Alpine
The incident highlights the different pressures facing the two drivers. For Bearman, the contact turned a fight for minor points into a retirement, with a penalty added on top. For Gasly, the damage limited what he could do in the closing phase, though holding P10 still earned Alpine a point.
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Bearman’s comments also offer a window into Haas’s current situation. By his own admission, the team lacks the pace to beat rivals such as Alpine and Racing Bulls on merit, which is why he felt the risk was justified. The penalty shows the other side of that calculation: when a lunge goes even slightly wrong, the cost can be far higher than the potential reward.
Both drivers now move on from Austin with the Mexico City Grand Prix next on the calendar. Bearman will hope for a cleaner weekend where he can fight for points without needing a gamble, while Gasly and Alpine will look to build on a points finish achieved despite car damage.
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