Oliver Bearman admits he 'almost killed' Isack Hadjar in Chinese GP near-miss

Oliver Bearman narrowly avoided a massive first-lap crash with Isack Hadjar at the Chinese Grand Prix, later admitting he "almost killed" the Red Bull driver. The Haas rookie recovered brilliantly from the scare, which sent him to the back of the field, to finish a strong fifth and continue his perfect points-scoring record this season.

Why it matters:

High-speed near-misses are a stark reminder of the razor-thin margins in Formula 1, where split-second reactions separate a racing incident from a career-altering crash. For Bearman, avoiding the collision preserved not only his race but also a championship position, showcasing the mental resilience required to shake off a major scare and refocus to deliver a top result.

The details:

• The incident occurred as Bearman (P9) battled wheel-to-wheel with Hadjar (P8) in the opening corners. Hadjar lost control, spinning directly across Bearman's path after locking his rear axle.
• Bearman's instinctive move to the left was mirrored by Hadjar's spin, forcing the Haas driver onto the run-off area to avoid a high-speed collision.
• Bearman's reaction was visceral, exclaiming to media, "F*** me, maybe not please, it's an expensive fine... I'm lucky to be standing here, honestly, I would have been a monster shunt."
• He attributed the tricky conditions to gusty winds, which made car balance unpredictable for everyone through that corner.

By the numbers:

• P5 Finish: Despite being sent to the back of the pack on Lap 1, Bearman fought back to finish fifth.
• Perfect Record: He has now scored points in every race opportunity in 2026: P7 in Australia, P8 in the China Sprint, and P5 in the Grand Prix.
• Championship Standings: With 17 points, Bearman currently holds an impressive fifth place in the Drivers' Championship.

What's next:

Bearman's performance confirms Haas has strong race pace, though qualifying remains a challenge to optimize. His ability to recover from adversity has become a hallmark of his rookie season. The focus now shifts to translating that race-day speed into better Saturday results, building on what he calls a "great baseline" with the VF-26. With his confidence and points tally growing, Bearman is rapidly establishing himself as a consistent midfield threat.