Oliver Bearman grid penalty came after a critical red flag infringement during Friday’s Monaco Grand Prix second practice and will see the Haas Formula 1 rookie serve a substantial 10-place grid drop in Sunday’s race.
The incident which has sent shockwaves through the paddock unfolded on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo where overtaking is already a rare and risky proposition.
The 20-year-old British driver making his mark in the sport, found himself at the center of controversy after stewards determined he had overtaken Carlos Sainz of Williams under red flag conditions—an action strictly forbidden by Formula 1 regulations.
The drama began during chaotic Monaco Grand Prix FP2 session which was twice interrupted by red flags. The first stoppage was prompted by a crash involving Isack Hadjar while the second was triggered by Oscar Piastri’s accident at Sainte Devote.
It was during the second red flag that Bearman’s actions came under scrutiny. Television replays and onboard footage clearly showed Bearman overtaking Sainz after the red flag had already been displayed.
The stewards’ report highlighted that a light panel directly in front of Bearman was clearly displaying the red flag, and his dashboard had also indicated the red flag well before the overtake occurred.
Bearman and a Haas team representative were summoned to the stewards for a hearing after the session. The young driver admitted to seeing the red flags but defended his actions by stating that he believed an abrupt deceleration would have been more dangerous.
He argued that continuing at a controlled pace was the safer option in the moment. However, the stewards rejected his reasoning, pointing out that the regulations require drivers to immediately reduce speed and proceed slowly back to the pits under red flag conditions.
Overtaking is explicitly forbidden and drivers must be prepared for unexpected hazards especially on a circuit as tight and unpredictable as Monaco.
The stewards’ verdict was unequivocal. They stated that Bearman’s failure to slow down sufficiently and his decision to overtake another car under red flag conditions constituted a clear breach of the rules.
“The whole purpose of requiring drivers to slow down immediately is for safety—they will not know what is in front of them or the reason for the red flag being shown,” the stewards’ statement read. “This is particularly so in a track like Monaco.”
With no mitigating factors found, the panel imposed a 10-place grid penalty for the race and added two penalty points to Bearman’s super licence, bringing his total to four over the past year.
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Monaco Grand Prix FP2 Results 2025 F1
Monaco Grand Prix FP1 Results 2025 F1
The Oliver Bearman grid penalty is a significant blow for the Haas driver who is still in the early stages of his Formula 1 career. Grid position is especially crucial in Monaco, where overtaking is notoriously difficult and track position often determines the outcome of the race.
Starting 10 places further back than he would otherwise have qualified will make Bearman’s task on Sunday even more challenging.
The penalty also puts additional pressure on the young driver to avoid further infractions, as accumulating 12 penalty points within a 12-month period would result in a mandatory race ban.
