Colapinto ‘not happy’ - fires back after Bearman's crash accusations

On the eve of Formula 1’s reprise in Miami, a war of words has broken out between Franco Colapinto and Oliver Bearman, as the Alpine driver hit back at his Haas counterpart’s interpretation of their near-disastrous run-in in the Japanese Grand Prix.

At the heart of the controversy is a staggering closing speed – 45 km/h – that left Bearman with nowhere to go as he rapidly reeled in Colapinto through Suzuka’s sweeping Sector Two.

The Briton’s desperate evasive move ended with a violent 50G impact at Spoon Curve, raising serious safety concerns and igniting debate over blame.

‘I’m not happy with his comments’

While the FIA and Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu both cleared Colapinto of wrongdoing, Bearman’s later remarks painted a different picture – suggesting the Alpine driver’s slight defensive movement had played a role in the incident.

Colapinto, however, is having none of it.

“The most important thing is that he was okay,” said Colapinto ahead of this weekend’s race in Miami. “After the race I sent him straight away a message. He never responded, so he didn't talk to me.

“The thing I'm the most happy about is that he's fine and that nothing bad happened. Of course, it's a big damage for their team, but it's part of racing. I think nowadays we need to understand much better how we can make racing safer and not take this amount of risks.”

There is a clear edge beneath the measured tone. Colapinto is not just defending himself – he’s challenging the narrative.

“When things like this happen, the guy that is behind has all the knowledge of the speed that he's doing, of the amount of boost that he's using, of what he's trying. The person in front is much more blind, I think.”

In other words, responsibility, in his view, does not lie solely with the driver ahead.

A deeper issue beyond driver blame

The Suzuka incident has become a flashpoint in a wider conversation about the 2026 regulations, particularly the extreme speed differentials created by energy deployment systems.

“Nowadays, with the closing speeds, you watch the mirror in one second and the second after, the car catches you [by] 20 metres. I do think that both have responsibility on it,” Colapinto said.

The Argentinean insists his actions were consistent and far from reckless, pushing back firmly against the idea that he triggered the incident.

“I'm going to say that I never really moved aggressively at any point in that moment or in that corner, which made him have the incident or made him crash,” he added.

“I'm just glad that he's OK. Of course, I'm not happy with his comments, but hopefully we can fix it soon.”

That final line hints at a dispute still simmering beneath the surface – one that may not be resolved as easily as both drivers publicly suggest.

• Read also: Bearman explains aftermath of 50G Suzuka crash - blames Colapinto

Bearman, for his part, has attempted to cool tensions, claiming in Miami that he never saw Colapinto’s message and insisting there are “no grudges.” But the contrast between that conciliatory tone and his earlier criticism only adds fuel to the fire.

What remains undeniable is that Suzuka has left a mark – not just on the barrier at Spoon Curve, but on the fragile balance between trust and survival in Formula 1’s new era.

And as the paddock regroups in Miami, the question lingers: was this just a racing incident—or a warning shot for something far more dangerous still lurking beneath the surface?

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