F1 champion scolds Franco Colapinto after huge Oliver Bearman crash

1997 F1 champion Jacques Villeneuve has voiced surprise that Franco Colapinto escaped a penalty following his incident with Oliver Bearman at the Japanese Grand Prix.

Bearman suffered a huge 50G shunt into the barrier during the race after being caught out by the closing speed as he followed Colapinto.

The two drivers were evidently using two different energy modes, however Bearman also voiced that he felt he wasn't given enough room on the inside.

As a result, he skated through the grass before colliding with the barrier at high speed.

The stewards opted against issuing a penalty, but Villeneuve has squarely pinned the blame on the Alpine driver.

“I was surprised that nothing was done to Colapinto, because this is what you don't want to see,” Villeneuve told F1.

“A little move just as you approach the corner, in such a dangerous corner where he's actually regenerating energy.

“I guess now we've seen the danger of this new regulation, the difference in speed differential with some movements can be so dangerous.

“There’s nothing Oliver could do. And I don't understand what Colapinto was thinking, moving at such a slow speed in such a dangerous place.”

Bearman was brought to the local medical centre at the track for checks but was cleared with no major injuries.

The crash shone further light on the dangers that the drivers have spoken of in the early stages of the season, with many predicting a big crash was coming due to the closing speed differentials that are part and parcel of the new power units.

When a driver is harvesting energy, they lose significant speed, but flashing red lights at the rear of the car are in place to warn a following competitor.

Speaking alongside Villeneuve, race driver and broadcaster Alex Brundle pointed out that an issue with the red lights display left Bearman unable to react.

“There are no recharge lights on,” he said.

“I’m led to believe that that would fall into where we would expect to see harvest lights on the rear of the car that flash at different rates to let the drivers know that's occurring.

“So either it's not fallen into those parameters, and I would dare to suggest it should, or they've had some sort of issue at Alpine.”