FIA Vows Safety Review After High-Speed Suzuka Crash

Oliver Bearman's 50G impact sparks talks on tweaking 2026 F1 regulations.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:54pm

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The FIA has issued a statement following a high-speed crash involving Haas driver Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix, saying it will work with teams and manufacturers to review the new 2026 regulations and determine if any adjustments are needed, particularly around energy management, to ensure safety remains a top priority.

Why it matters

Bearman's 191 mph impact with the barriers, which resulted in a 50G crash, has raised concerns about the new energy deployment rules introduced for the 2026 season. The FIA wants to gather data and analyze the regulations to see if any refinements are necessary to prevent similar high-speed incidents in the future.

The details

On lap 22 in Suzuka, Bearman was trying to make a pass on Franco Colapinto when his Haas car hit the wall at 191 mph after his energy boost was depleted. The massive 50G impact sparked the FIA's decision to schedule meetings in April to assess the new 2026 regulations, particularly around energy management, and determine if any changes are required to improve safety.

  • The Japanese Grand Prix weekend saw the biggest crash of the 2026 season so far.
  • The FIA will hold meetings in April to review the 2026 regulations following the Suzuka incident.

The players

Oliver Bearman

Haas driver who was involved in the high-speed 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Franco Colapinto

Driver that Bearman was battling with when the crash occurred.

Ayao Komatsu

Haas team principal who expressed relief that Bearman only suffered minor injuries from the massive crash.

Kimi Antonelli

Mercedes driver who won the Japanese Grand Prix and now leads the Drivers' Championship.

George Russell

Mercedes driver whose championship hopes were hurt by the crash that impacted the race result.

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What they’re saying

“It was a scary moment out there, but everything is OK, which is the main thing. The adrenaline is wearing off a bit, so it's going to be a long trip home, but I'm absolutely fine.”

— Oliver Bearman, Haas Driver

“Yes. It could have been a lot worse. I am just glad he did not break anything. We have been talking about closing speeds, and this accident has now happened, so we cannot ignore it. Safety should always be top of the list.”

— Ayao Komatsu, Haas Team Principal

What’s next

The FIA will hold meetings in April to assess the 2026 regulations and determine if any adjustments, particularly around energy management, are required to improve safety.

The takeaway

This high-speed crash at Suzuka has highlighted the need for the FIA and teams to closely review the new 2026 regulations to ensure driver safety remains the top priority as the sport continues to push the boundaries of performance.