Bearman addresses sudden pace loss in Q3 after blistering start

Haas rookie Oliver Bearman admitted he was left puzzled by a sudden drop in pace during the final segment of qualifying at the São Paulo Grand Prix, after a session that had promised much more based on his early speed.

The young Briton, who impressed in Q1 and Q2 with times that briefly placed him among the frontrunners, will start Sunday’s race from eighth on the grid – a result that equals his best qualifying performance so far this season.

Bearman said he felt in control through the opening stages of qualifying but couldn’t quite replicate that same rhythm when it mattered most.

Promising Start Turns to Frustration

“For me, the main difficulty was that I had a great feeling throughout Q1 and Q2, and it just wasn't quite there in Q3,” he explained. “I saw a lot of people struggling, out of position on that soft tyre. It seemed to be a difficult tyre today.”

The 20-year-old suspected tyre temperature may have played a role in the dip in performance, noting that a slightly altered approach during his Q3 out-laps might have worked against him.

“Maybe we were too hot with it in Q3 because I was doing slightly faster out-laps,” he added.

“Because honestly, the two laps I did in Q3, I was incredibly happy with and I crossed the line very happy, but I see two tenths slower on my delta compared to what I managed in Q2. So it was really strange.”

• Read also: Bearman urges realism amid Ferrari-Hamilton succession talk

Despite the frustration of missing out on a higher grid spot, Bearman remained upbeat about both his own performance and the team’s progress.

“To be where we are is a great result,” he said. “I think as much as we had great performance at the start of quali, I'm still happy with P8.

“I think the important thing would be to understand why it worked so well in Q1 and Q2 and what we missed in Q3.”

Confidence Rising

The Haas driver arrived in Brazil buoyed by his fourth-place finish in Mexico two weeks ago – a result that has underscored his growing confidence and maturity in the car.

“To have the performance we did today, the car was working so well in high speed,” he reiterated. “I had an incredible amount of confidence with the car, and even in low speed, it was working very well. So it's a great job.

“The car is feeling really good underneath me, and now I'm really looking forward to the race.”

As Bearman continues to impress in his debut season, his measured analysis and consistent pace are fast marking him out as one of Formula 1’s most promising young talents — and a potential star for Haas’s long-term future.

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