Oliver Bearman Receives Penalty Point for 'Dangerous Driving' in São Paulo Sprint

Oliver Bearman has been handed another penalty point on his F1 super license following a collision with Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson during the São Paulo sprint race. This incident, which occurred at Turn 4 on the opening lap, saw both drivers blame each other, leading to a full investigation by the stewards.

Why it matters:

This penalty places Bearman, who was recently down to eight penalty points, at nine—just three points shy of a race ban. With no points set to expire until next May, this incident significantly raises the stakes for the young driver, highlighting the intense scrutiny and high standards of driving conduct in Formula 1.

The Details:

• Incident: The clash involved Bearman's car (87) and Lawson's car (30) at Turn 4 during the opening lap of the São Paulo sprint.
• Investigation Focus: The stewards primarily investigated alleged "driving in a manner deemed potentially dangerous by Car 87 on a straight" towards Lawson's car.
• Stewards' Findings: The stewards concluded that Bearman, after losing momentum, moved left as Lawson attempted to draw alongside, forcing Lawson to place two wheels on the wet grass.
• Breach: This maneuver, occurring at high speed, was deemed to create an "unnecessary risk" and was a breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV, Article 2 e) of the International Sporting Code.
• Penalty: Bearman received a five-second time penalty, which did not alter the classification (Bearman remained 12th, Lawson 13th), and one penalty point on his super license.
• Penalty Point Accumulation: This single penalty point brings Bearman's total to nine, putting him precariously close to the 12-point threshold for a race ban.
• Penalty Point Expiry: Bearman's next penalty points are not due to be wiped off his license until May of next year.

What's next:

Bearman now faces increased pressure to maintain faultless driving for the remainder of the season and into the next. With nine penalty points, any further incident could lead to a race ban, a significant setback for his burgeoning F1 career. The long wait until next May for points to expire means he must exercise extreme caution in every session.