The FIA has responded to growing criticism following Oliver Bearman’s frightening crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, with officials insisting that any rule changes must be carefully evaluated rather than rushed.
Oliver Bearman lost control while following Franco Colapinto’s Alpine due to a sharp closing speed before slipping off the grass and crashing into the barriers at speed. Although the crash was serious, Bearman was able to walk away and was subsequently pronounced fit by medical personnel.
The incident has raised further concerns about closing speeds in Formula 1, which were already flagged internally before the race, leading to further discussions about the matter but also resulting in no immediate changes being made, which has drawn criticism.
FIA single-seater director Nikolas Tombazis acknowledged the risks of this situation but said that any action taken too quickly could have unintended effects.
“Every accident at high speed is always a little bit of a shock,” Tombazis said. “To say it was expected would be wrong, but the closing speeds had been identified as a risk.”
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FIA wary of rushing into changes
With pressure mounting, the FIA has made it clear that a measured approach is necessary. According to Nikolas Tombazis, previous attempts to fast-track changes have sometimes led to new problems rather than solutions.
“When we’ve introduced changes in a much more hurried way, the risk is that we make things worse or cause other issues,” he explained. “That’s why we need time to analyse. Clearly, safety is the number one priority.”
The governing body is currently in discussions with teams to explore potential regulatory adjustments, balancing safety concerns with the overall racing experience.
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Next steps before the Miami Grand Prix
Additional conversations have been planned for the near future as the FIA wants to come to an agreement prior to the Miami Grand Prix and the resumption of the championship itself.
There is no word yet about changes being officially confirmed; however, this incident continues to highlight how close in Formula 1 the margins of error are between being safe and still participating in an actual race.
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