Franco Colapinto Rejects Oliver Bearman’s ‘Unacceptable’ Label Following High-Speed Suzuka Collision

Franco Colapinto is "not happy" with Oliver Bearman’s criticism after their 50G Suzuka crash. Read about the F1 2026 safety row heading into Miami.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 3:36 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The Silent Treatment in the Paddock

The tension between two of Formula 1’s rising stars has reached a boiling point ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Franco Colapinto informed accredited media that his personal outreach to Oliver Bearman has been met with silence following their violent encounter at Suzuka. According to the Alpine driver, he sent a message to Bearman immediately after the race to check on his well-being, but the Haas rookie has yet to respond. This lack of communication has been compounded by Bearman’s recent appearance on the Up To Speed podcast, where he characterized Colapinto’s driving as "unacceptable." Colapinto stated he is "not happy" with the public finger-pointing, especially given the technical complexities involved in the crash.

Dissecting the 50G Impact

The incident at the Japanese Grand Prix was one of the most severe of the 2026 season so far, involving a rapid closing speed that forced Bearman onto the grass and into a 50G impact with the wall. Bearman has alleged that a slight move to the left by Colapinto instigated the loss of control, claiming that such a maneuver is intolerable at high speeds. Colapinto, however, maintains that he never moved aggressively and that the responsibility for safety in such scenarios is shared. He emphasized that the most important outcome was that Bearman escaped without serious injury, despite the substantial financial and mechanical damage suffered by the Haas team.

The Blind Spot of the Leading Driver

Defending his position, Colapinto argued that the current 2026 regulations have created a "blind" environment for the lead driver. He explained that while the car behind has full knowledge of its own speed and battery boost levels, the car in front can only rely on mirrors that are often insufficient against the massive velocity deltas of the new power units. In a matter of a single second, a trailing car can close a 20-meter gap, making reactive defending nearly impossible. Colapinto suggested that the driver approaching from behind must take greater care to manage these closing speeds to avoid catastrophic contact.