F1 star's crash leaves George Russell fuming: 'Unbelievable'

George Russell looks on with the Japan flag in the background — Photo: © IMAGO

Japanese Grand Prix

F1 star's crash leaves George Russell fuming: 'Unbelievable'

The Japanese GP saw a dramatic incident

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Sunday 29 March 2026 08:12

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Haas F1 driver Ollie Bearman suffered a huge crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, bringing out a safety car which did not amuse George Russell.

The young Brit has had a brilliant start to the season, but struggled during qualifying for the race on Saturday, being knocked out in Q1 and starting down in 18th. And on lap 22, Bearman's race ended, getting onto the grass at Spoon Curve and hurtling into the barriers. The Haas driver could then be seen limping away from his car.

While the safety car timing worked perfectly for Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, Russell lost out, having pitted just one lap before. "Unbelievable," the Brit shouted on team radio, before saying: "Wow, f*** our luck in these last two races."

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It meant that Russell, who was second before the pit stops, was down in third after the safety car, with championship rival Antonelli leading the race.

The safety car came in at the end of lap 27, resuming the race after Bearman's car had been cleared away.

Bearman's big crash

Bearman's team principal Ayao Komatsu blamed enhanced closing speeds in F1 2026 for the accident, with Bearman seemingly caught out by how quick he caught up to the back of Franco Colapinto.

Everyone's thoughts will be with Bearman and hoping that whatever was causing him to limp out of the car is not a long-term injury.

He has been brilliant so far this year, and went into the Japanese GP up in fifth in the drivers' championship.

An update from the Haas team revealed that he had been given an x-ray in the medical centre at the track, and that no fractures had been found in his knees or ankles.

Whatever knock he picked up in the crash, the young Brit will now have five weeks to recover, with a long break being caused by the cancellation of the two April grands prix in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain because of the war in the Middle East.