F1 Monaco GP: Oliver Bearman brings out red flag after heavy high-speed crash in FP3. Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman brought out the red flag in Monaco FP3.

Oliver Bearman triggers red flag after Monaco FP3 crash near Casino Square

Oliver Bearman’s third free practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix ended in dramatic fashion after the Haas driver crashed heavily on the climb towards Casino Square, bringing out the red flag with just 14 minutes remaining in FP3.

The Ferrari junior appeared to drift slightly wide on corner entry before losing the rear of the car. Once the slide began, there was little room for recovery on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, and the Haas machine slammed into the barriers at high speed.

The incident immediately halted the session and left Haas facing a major challenge ahead of qualifying later in the afternoon. With track position being more important in Monaco than almost anywhere else on the Formula 1 calendar, every minute of preparation is crucial.

Ferrari academy driver explains what happened

Shortly after the crash, Oliver Bearman apologised to his team over the radio and suggested the car may have been unsettled by contact with the track surface.

“Sorry guys. It’s the bottoming! Oh my gosh,” the British driver said.

His comments indicate that the car may have hit a bump or compressed heavily as it approached the corner, causing a sudden loss of stability. Around Monaco, where drivers operate millimetres from the barriers and the circuit surface is far from smooth, even a small disturbance can have serious consequences.

Haas faces race against time before qualifying

The timing of the accident could hardly be worse for Haas. Qualifying is set to begin at 3pm local time, leaving the mechanics with a limited window to assess and repair the damage.

While the full extent of the impact was not immediately clear, the crash appeared significant enough to require extensive work in the garage. The team will now be hoping to have Bearman’s car ready in time for the most important session of the weekend.

For Oliver Bearman, the incident is an unfortunate interruption to a weekend that had offered another valuable opportunity to showcase his talent on one of Formula 1’s most demanding circuits. However, if Haas can complete the repairs in time, the Ferrari academy driver will still have a chance to recover in qualifying and fight for a competitive grid position on the streets of Monaco.