Haas rookie Oliver Bearman scored in the Japanese Grand Prix his second consecutive top-ten finish of the season, but the Briton reckons his solid performance flattered the US outfit’s VF-25 contender.
Bearman navigated his way into Q3 during qualifying and maintained his position throughout a largely uneventful race on Sunday, crossing the line in 10th.
For Haas, this was a significant achievement at the high-downforce Suzuka circuit, where the team had historically struggled.
Ahead of the race weekend, to bolster their efforts, the squad rushed through a floor update to address an aero oscillation issue identified on its car at the start of the season.
While introducing an under-developed component involved significant risk, the gamble seems to have paid off, at least in part, based on Bearman’s performance.
Bearman’s Candid Assessment
Reflecting on his P10 result, Bearman suggested that while Haas deserved the points, their car isn’t yet among the grid’s top mid-field contenders.
“Well it was definitely tough to overtake today but I didn't see anyone in my rear views that close,” the 19-year-old told the official F1 website.
“So it was not out of position let's say. Maybe an RB or a Williams would have been faster than me if they qualified where they should have. I think we are not quite here on merit.
“I don't think we are the fifth-fastest car at the moment. But if I can put a clean qualifying lap and put the car there then it looks like we can hold on to it.
“Our race pace seems really strong. A few more good quali laps and then we will see where we are.”
A Conservative Approach
Bearman admitted that he feared a challenge from Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda, who started 14th but couldn’t close the gap in a race with minimal overtaking opportunities.
“After a few laps I realised we didn't have the pace to fight the guys in front and the guys behind me really didn't have the pace to fight me,” he explained.
“My only fear was Tsunoda who was only in a faster car coming through, but it was really tough to overtake today.”
Bearman admitted to a conservative approach, prioritizing the point over risky moves.
“I did tell them [the team], ‘Let's try and not do anything crazy, not try and undercut too far’. In the end this is our pace, this is where we should finish,” he argued.
“It's a bit of a bad feeling to almost give up points but I felt like P10 is our maximum today, so let's just hold on to it. We did a really good job with strategy, with pitstops and I was just managing my gaps and everything.
“It was a bit boring honestly but that's okay.”
Read also: F1i's Driver Ratings for the 2025 Japanese GP
Bearman’s mature reflections underscore his focus on execution over delusion about Haas’ current standing. While the points were a welcome boost for the team, his insistence that the car isn’t a top-five contender signals a grounded outlook as he continues his rookie campaign.
With strong qualifying and race management, Haas’ teenager proved he could capitalize on opportunities – even if, in his view, the result flattered the team’s true pace.
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Bearman: Suzuka point justified, but Haas ‘not there yet on merit’ F1i.com.
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