The final practice session ahead of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix was briefly halted after Haas driver Oliver Bearman crashed into the barriers, bringing out a red flag with less than 15 minutes remaining.
The incident marked the second major crash of the weekend in Monaco and came at a crucial stage of preparations as drivers pushed hard to fine-tune their cars before the all-important qualifying session on the narrow street circuit.
Bearman had been enjoying a relatively solid session and was sitting 13th on the timesheets as the clock ticked down. Like many of his rivals, the British driver was attempting to improve his lap time and gain valuable confidence ahead of qualifying, where track position is often decisive around Monaco’s tight and unforgiving layout.
However, his run came to an abrupt end at Turn 3. As Bearman accelerated through the corner, he suddenly lost control of his Haas machine. The car snapped away from him and slid into the barriers rear-first, causing substantial damage to the back of the vehicle.
The impact immediately brought out red flags, forcing race control to stop the session while marshals recovered the damaged car and cleared debris from the circuit. With qualifying only a short time away, the crash created a significant challenge for the Haas mechanics, who were left facing a race against the clock to repair the car and ensure it would be ready for the next session.
Speaking over team radio moments after the accident, Bearman appeared frustrated and apologetic as he explained what had happened.
“Sorry guys, it’s the bottoming,” he told his team. “I totally lost it on the bump, I’m so sorry.”
His comments suggested that the car may have bottomed out over a bump in the circuit, unsettling the vehicle and causing him to lose control. Monaco’s streets are notoriously uneven, and drivers frequently have to deal with bumps, kerbs and changing grip levels while operating at the limit.
The crash was an unfortunate setback for Bearman, who had been hoping to build momentum ahead of one of the most important qualifying sessions of the season. Overtaking opportunities are extremely limited in Monaco, making a strong grid position essential for achieving a good race result.
Bearman’s accident was only the second significant collision involving the barriers during the Monaco weekend. On Friday, Isack Hadjar suffered a heavy crash at Turn 16 during practice, causing damage to his car and briefly interrupting the session.
Despite the two incidents, Monaco’s demanding circuit has generally seen drivers avoid major mistakes so far. Nevertheless, Bearman’s crash served as another reminder of how little margin for error exists around the iconic street track, where a single misjudgment can instantly end a session and leave teams scrambling to repair damaged machinery before qualifying begins.
