- Jacques Villeneuve slams Franco Colapinto after a terrifying 50G crash in Japan.
- Extreme speed deltas under 2026 regulations spark a massive Formula 1 debate.
- Carlos Sainz and the GPDA demand urgent changes following Bearman’s scare.
Jacques Villeneuve, who became a champion in 1997 with Williams, has criticised Franco Colapinto for pulling off a dangerous move against Oliver Bearman, who was coming through at high speed at a corner.
Bearman suffered a harsh crash after being shunted into the barriers, which left him limping afterwards. His incident also shed light towards the dangers of racing under these new regs of the hybrid internal combustion engine (ICE) and the electric motor.
Villenueve reflected on the incident, sharing that these speed differences could be dangerous for the drivers. While Bearman crashed out of the Japan GP, the F1 champ was shocked that the FIA didn’t penalise Colapinto for slowing at the corner.
What did Villeneuve say about the Colapinto-Bearman incident?
In a conversation with F1, Villeneuve shared his thoughts on the Colapinto-Bearman incident, expressing his surprise at why the FIA didn’t take action against Colapinto because he believes the ‘dangerous move’ he pulled at the corner shouldn’t be acceptable in F1. He said, “A little move just as you approach the corner, in such a dangerous corner where he’s actually regenerating energy.”
Further reflecting on the challenges these new regs pose, he added, “I guess now we’ve seen the danger of this new regulation, the difference in speed differential with some movements can be so dangerous.”
He claimed that while Bearman had no option, he questioned what Colapinto was thinking when he slowed down at such a risky spot. Following the horrifying crash, Bearman was immediately taken to the medical centre and was cleared of any fractures.
Later, Bearman also addressed the incident and reassured fans that he’s fine now.
How did Bearman crash at the Japan GP 2026?
On Lap 22, Bearman was approaching Colapinto’s Alpine, attempting to overtake him at the Spoon Curve. As he was coming at high speed, Colapinto slid gradually toward the middle of the track, forcing Bearman to move his Haas away to avoid a potential collision.
Bearman went into the grass and struck through the speed boards as he lost the balance of the car. He directly hit the barriers, which caused pain in his leg. As he came out of the car, he struggled to walk, with marshals helping him for support. He sat at the side of the track before being taken to the medical centre.
This scary incident sparked a safety debate across the paddock, with Carlos Sainz Jr., who is now the director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, revealing that drivers had been warning the FIA about such incidents for months. It remains to be seen what changes the FIA makes to the rules to ensure drivers’ safety.
