Oliver Bearman will start from the pit lane at the Spanish Grand Prix in Formula 1 after Haas made significant changes to their car before the race. The Briton was already set to start from the back of the grid after missing qualifying, but the situation was updated following the team’s modifications.
Read more Spain GP 2026: the live F1 race in Madring
Bearman suffered a heavy crash in the final moments of Saturday’s TL3, which prevented his participation in the qualifying session. In preparation for the race, Haas installed new power unit components and also changed the chassis, causing the driver to lose his grid position and start the race from the pits.
The scenario increases the challenge for the Briton in Madring. The junior categories showed throughout the weekend that overtaking can be difficult on the new circuit, which tends to complicate any recovery attempts even more.
Read more F1: FIA releases the official starting grid for the 2026 Spanish GP
Bearman took responsibility for Saturday’s accident. “Unfortunately, I was caught off guard at Turn 10 on the last lap. It was a combination of slightly used tires and a gust of wind that didn’t favor me,” he said. “I shouldn’t have made that mistake, it hurts a lot because the car was strong.”
Despite the setback, the driver believes he can still take advantage of opportunities during the race. “We have to keep our heads up and look at the positives, which are that the car is fast. We will give everything to do the best possible tomorrow.”
Read more F2: Beganovic wins from start to finish in Madrid. Fittipaldi and Câmara score points
