Oliver Bearman, Haas, Circuit of the Americas, 2025

Oliver Bearman criticised the stewards’ decision to penalise him for leaving the track while fighting for position with Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

The Haas driver lost the final points place after the stewards handed him a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. Bearman went wide at turn 15 after Antonelli tried to pass him on the inside, and the stewards ruled the Mercedes driver got far enough alongside for his move to be legitimate.

“Car 12 [Antonelli] was attempting an overtake on car 87 [Bearman] on the inside into turn 12 [sic] and had its front axle ahead of the mirrors of car 87 prior to and at the apex,” the stewards noted. “Therefore car 12 had the right to use the full width of the track. Car 87 left the track on the outside while defending and rejoined the track in front of car 12.

“The stewards determine that Car 12 attempted a legitimate overtake, earned the right to the racing line according to the Driving Standard Guidelines and did not deliberately force car 87 off track, whereas car 12 gained a lasting advantage from leaving the track by maintaining its position.”

However Bearman disagreed and accused the Mercedes driver of forcing him off the track.

“From my point of view, I felt like that was not a punishable offence,” he said. “What happened there was simply getting pushed off the track and holding position. I don’t think I was in the wrong by staying where I was there.”

Bearman asked his team during the race: “is there any investigation for what happened with me and Antonelli?” After being told he had been given a 10-second time penalty Bearman replied: “What the hell? That is incredible.”

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Penalty box

Did the stewards issue the correct penalty? Cast your vote below and have your say in the comments.

Bearman’s penalty for leaving the track was:

  • No opinion (0%)
  • Far too lenient (0%)
  • Slightly too lenient (0%)
  • Correct (38%)
  • Slightly too harsh (25%)
  • Far too harsh (38%)

Total Voters: 8

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2025 United States Grand Prix

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