Franco Colapinto reckons the closing speeds in Formula 1 in 2026 can become “really dangerous” after Oliver Bearman’s 50G crash at the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Haas driver was approximately one second behind Colapinto through Suzuka’s sector two, before suddenly closing at Spoon as the Alpine was harvesting energy to replenish its battery on lap 22.
Bearman was forced into evasive action and despite suggestions that Colapinto moved to the left under braking, him not looking in his mirrors shows he was just taking the racing line and not actively defending P17.
It ultimately resulted in the Briton taking to the grass before spinning sideways into the barriers and this comes after pre-season worries about closing speeds under the new-for-2026 regulations.
Colapinto, who ultimately finished 16th, said: “It was really strange to be honest, I was a little sitting duck. I think the speed difference is so big and so large. It’s almost like you’re in an outlap and another guy is in a push.
“It’s really odd. It’s a corner that we are doing flat and he was like more than 50k quicker than me – so it’s very strange.
“I think it gets really sketchy when the straights are not straight and he’s turning because we are not on a straight lane, we are kind of turning and once I look in the mirror, he was spinning in the grass.
“Even spinning he overtook me, so imagine the speed difference. At some points it becomes really dangerous. I’m glad he’s okay. I saw him walking in the paddock and he seems fine.”
It’s not the first time Colapinto has been involved in an incident like this in 2026 either, as the season-opening Australian Grand Prix saw him almost suffer a huge shunt with Liam Lawson.
The Racing Bulls driver was slow off the line due to a lack of battery power and Colapinto only saw him at the last second, showing incredible reactions to avoid the back of the VCARB 03.
Colapinto pinpointed these closing speeds as an area that must improve under the new ruleset: “I’ve never moved or anything like that. I think the speed difference, the marbles, it’s like many things.
“But the biggest one is that one car is doing 50k or more – and that’s when it becomes dangerous. It’s the same thing that happened to me in Melbourne. One was in a race start and I had to avoid something that was 100k slower than me.
“It’s things that are happening with these cars. We just need to understand how to make it a bit less of a problem. I think, for overtaking, it’s the same.
“Those overtakes that are really artificial, as soon as you see on TV, the guy in front suddenly a car comes by 50k quicker and you don’t even see it. I think it’s just things to review with the FIA in the future.”
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