Haas is unwilling to let the matter of Oliver Bearman’s elimination from the first round of qualifying at Imola rest.
The team has asked the FIA for further details of the decision-making process which led it to rule Bearman did not complete his final flying lap in Q1 before the session was red-flagged due to a crash at Tamburello.
Bearman appeared to have done enough to secure a place in Q2 when he completed his final lap in Q1 yesterday. However the FIA subsequently decided he had not completed the lap before the red flags were waved in response to Franco Colapinto’s crash.
The start of Q2 was delayed as the Colapinto crash scene was cleared and the implications of the red flag were analysed. As Bearman’s lap time was eventually ruled invalid, he no longer merited a place in Q2 and Gabriel Bortoleto took his place.
The FIA subsequently issued an explanation for its decision on Saturday evening. A spokesperson stated “the red flag was set at 16:32.17.6 seconds [and] Bearman crossed the line at 16:32.20.9 seconds with the abort signal / red flag showing on the start gantry.”
However on Sunday morning ahead of the race Haas indicated it still had questions over how the FIA determined the facts of the case.
“After discussions last night with the FIA, we have subsequently asked for further written clarification on the decision-making concerning Ollie Bearman’s final Q1 lap in order for us to review more comprehensively,” said a spokesperson for the team.
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“We similarly asked what measures the FIA / Race Control can put in place moving forward to ensure that this situation is avoided in the future to the benefit of F1.”
Bearman is due to start today’s race from 19th on the grid.
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