Oliver Bearman, 19, in horror high speed crash during F2 session just hours before he’s set for Haas F1 practice drive
BRITISH driver Oliver Bearman suffered a high-speed crash during F2 Practice One on Friday morning.
The 19-year-old lost control of his car with just eight minutes of the session remaining.
He subsequently slipped off the track, onto the gravel and into the barrier.
Bearman is set to make a brief return to Formula One on Friday afternoon.
The teenager has been pencilled in to drive the Haas in Free Practice One.
That means he will take to the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari track again, but this time in a faster and much more powerful car.
Bearman made his F1 debut for Ferrari earlier this year, replacing Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah.
The Brit was introduced as a last-minute replacement after Sainz underwent surgery for appendicitis.
He finished seventh in the race, ahead of both Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s event, Bearman told Sky Sports: “I see it as of course my chance.
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“But just because there is a seat free [at Haas next year], it doesn’t mean that I’m entitled to it.
“I still have to go out there and earn it through good performances in F2, but even more so the six FPs that I’m doing, I have to perform well and show that I’m ready to jump into F1 next year.”
He continued: “Of course I’ve been set back in F2 but that doesn’t mean… everything is possible, first of all. Now we’re in the European season where we know the tracks, we have understood the car a bit better.
“So I don’t see any reason we can’t fight for the championship in F2, and I’m really motivated to do so. But these six FPs are of course six great opportunities to prove my talent and what I can do.
“I don’t place any more weight on them than I do on the F2 because of course you need to show that you can compete and race well. F1 is not just about doing the fastest lap. So 50-50.”