‘Too much, too soon’ - Dejected Oliver Bearman explains costly F1 crash

Oliver Bearman has explained his costly crash during the opening free practice session ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

Bearman lost control of his car through Turn 12 and suffered a high-speed impact with the barrier.

The incident was severe enough to warrant a power unit change ahead of the second practice session, with repairs continuing as FP2 got underway.

Haas' mechanics were unable to repair the car in time and Bearman set zero laps in the session.

Speaking to media including RacingNews365, Bearman accepted full responsibility for the clash with the barrier. 

“It was just a bit too much steering lock over the compression at the apex of 10, which sent me wide and it's quite bumpy out there, I just lost it,” he said.

“Once you're in the gravel, it's so bumpy and there is asphalt, grass, bumps. I was already out of it. Once you're there, there is no more control.”

It marked a disastrous start to his first full-time F1 season as Bearman acknowledged he took the wrong approach to the session.

However, with another hour of practice ahead of him on Saturday and rain forecast for the grand prix on Sunday, Bearman is keeping his spirits high.

“Honestly, the feeling was good. [I was] just wanting a bit too much too soon, just my approach, which isn't really the right one for F1.

“In F2 you go straight to quali after the first practice session. In F1 you have two more. So there's no need to be straight on the limit.

“Of course, at this stage of my career, I can't really be missing any laps, so that's on me and annoying, but I can only thank one person for that.

“C'est la vie - but on Sunday, with the chance of rain, I'm a little less sad.

“I have a whole hour [on Saturday], which is plenty of time to get back in the rhythm and bounce back.”