McLaren signals need for FIA action after Bearman’s freak Suzuka crash

Bearman suffered a heavy shunt at Spoon Curve as he closed in on Franco Colapinto in the Alpine. The British driver required assistance from marshals to walk away from the incident and was seen visibly limping after the impact.

Following the alarming incident, Stella emphasised the need for urgent measures to prevent similar scenarios in the future. Speaking after the conclusion of the Japanese GP, the McLaren team boss admitted he was not entirely surprised by how the crash occurred, noting that teams had raised safety concerns during pre-season testing.

“When it comes to the incident involving Oliver, I think this situation, when you know that the closing speed can be as high as it can happen with a car lifting or being in a ‘super clip’ while the other cars are in deployment, is not a surprise. We said that already in testing,” Stella noted.

However, he stressed that the FIA must take a proactive approach, reviewing the incident to implement permanent solutions rather than reactive measures.

“It is on the FIA’s agenda in terms of the aspects of the 2026 regulations that should be improved. We don’t want to wait for things to happen before putting actions in place,” he said.

“Today, something happened. Oliver, luckily, seemed to get out of it with just some bruises, but nothing too major. We have a responsibility to put in place the actions that, especially from a safety point of view, need to be implemented,” Stella concluded.

Bearman’s incident prompted a barrage of reactions from several drivers, with the FIA subsequently issuing a statement in response to the crash.

Earlier, Bearman stated he would focus primarily on his recovery before engaging in any other activity, as F1 enters its in-season break.

The Brit noted that he needs to be fully fit before commencing preparation for the upcoming race in Miami.

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