F1 drivers call for safety changes after Bearman smash

AFP | Suzuka

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Formula One drivers called for changes to protect their safety after Haas’s Ollie Bearman slammed into a barrier at high speed at yesterday’s Japanese Grand Prix.

The 20-year-old avoided serious injury after spinning off the track midway through the race, although he was limping heavily as he was helped off the course by stewards.

Sweeping new energy-saving regulations in Formula One this year mean cars can be travelling at drastically different speeds on the track at the same time.

Bearman was moving at high speed as he approached the slower Franco Colapinto and had to take evasive action to avoid hitting him.

Williams driver Carlos Sainz called on racing authorities to make sure there was no repeat of the incident.

“As drivers, we have been extremely vocal that the problem is not only qualifying, it’s also racing, and we were warning this type of accident was always going to happen,” said the Spaniard.