FIA issue statement on changing F1 regulations following dangerous Ollie Bearman crash

The FIA have issued a statement on Formula One regulations after Ollie Bearman was involved in a dangerous crash in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Bearman crashed out of the 22nd lap on the Suzuka circuit on Sunday when trying to pass Franco Colapinto of Alpine.

The Haas driver's move did not go to plan and he ended up losing control of his car and on the grass.

Bearman then hit the distance boards before crashing into the barriers. He was able to exit the vehicle without assistance but walked with a limp as he was attended to by marshalls and was taken to the medical centre for an x-ray.

The 20-year-old avoided serious injury but speaking after the race, Williams driver Carlos Sainz said the accident was "inevitable" and something the drivers had been warning the FIA and FOM about".

With a raft of new regulations brought in and pertaining to significant battery changes, the Spaniard claims drivers are "reaching differentials of 40-50 km/h using boost".

A safety car had to be deployed. Image: Getty

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Sainz called for F1 to "reconsider its position" and address issues regarding the regulations ahead of the Miami Grand Prix in May.

His comments come after four-time world champion Max Verstappen compared current racing to Mario Kart.

In response, the FIA put out a statement referencing "the contribution of high closing speeds" in Bearman's accident and confirmed that meetings will take place to decide whether the regulations must be refined so early in the season.

"Since their introduction, the 2026 regulations have been the subject of ongoing discussions between the FIA, Teams, Power Unit Manufacturers, Drivers and FOM," the statement read.

"By design, these regulations include a number of adjustable parameters, particularly in relation to energy management, which allow for optimisation based on real-world data.

"It has been the consistent position of all stakeholders that a structured review would take place after the opening phase of the season, to allow for sufficient data to be gathered and analysed.

"A number of meetings are therefore scheduled in April to assess the operation of the new regulations and to determine whether any refinements are required. Any potential adjustments, particularly those related to energy management, require careful simulation and detailed analysis.

"The FIA will continue to work in close and constructive collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for the sport and safety will always remain a core element of the FIA's mission.

"At this stage, any speculation regarding the nature of potential changes would be premature. Further updates will be communicated in due course."

Haas issued an encouraging update where they said that Bearman had "sustained no fractures from his earlier crash", with a spokesman confirming that he suffered a "right-knee contusion".

It remains to be seen whether he will be able to return for the Miami Grand Prix on 3 May but the break could give Bearman enough time to rest up.

Both the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia Grands Prix events, permanent fixtures in the F1 calendar, were cancelled due the conflict in the Middle East.