Oliver Bearman will head into 2026 on the verge of receiving a Formula 1 race ban as he collected a penalty during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The Haas rookie departed the Yas Marina Circuit with 10 penalty points on his licence, with 12 triggering an automatic suspension.
None of his points will expire before May. The margin for error has almost vanished.
Bearman’s latest sanction came after a battle with Lance Stroll at Turn 9 in the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit last weekend.
Stewards ruled that he made more than one change of direction while defending. That violated Article 2(b) of the International Sporting Code.
He received a five-second time penalty plus one penalty point. The call dropped him to 12th and out of the points.
Following the race, Bearman was visibly frustrated. He questioned the ruling and insisted he had not realised his move was illegal.
“More than one change of direction is the ruling. I didn’t know I was not allowed to break the tow anymore, so that’s strange. Not sure why I was penalised,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“Of course, I was moving to defend my position, but I moved to break the tow, which is one separate thing, and then I defended my position.
“I left enough space, so I don’t know. Some of these rulings, we need to understand why they were made, because I don’t know.”
When asked where the incident occurred, Bearman clarified: “It was into Turn 9. I need to look myself. I’m miffed as much as you are.”
The decision added to a tense afternoon across the grid.
Liam Lawson, Lance Stroll, and Yuki Tsunoda also picked up penalty points for separate incidents.
But Bearman’s situation is the most severe. One more mistake before the Canadian Grand Prix could force him to sit out a race.
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