"Crazy" strategy could save Bearman's Monaco GP after "harsh penalty"

Haas racer Oliver Bearman picked up a 10-place grid penalty for the Monaco GP after he overtook Carlos Sainz under red flag conditions.

The grid drop marks the second time in a week that the Briton received a “harsh” stewarding decision, but this time it could benefit him in the long run.

“I feel like once they make a decision, even if it's wrong – even if it's clearly wrong – they're not going to turn back on it. And that seems a bit harsh,” Bearman said of the FIA after his qualifying lap in Imola was deleted, leading to his Q1 elimination.

The Briton said it was “totally unfair” for him to be penalised after a violent crash from Alpine driver Franco Colapinto ended the first session prematurely, with Bearman on a fast lap when the red flags flew.

Fast forward a week and Bearman once again finds himself in hot water with the stewards, who doled out a 10-place grid penalty at the Monaco Grand Prix after the rookie committed an infringement during FP2 by overtaking Sainz after the red flag had been waved.

According to an FIA report, Haas informed Bearman “rather late” and “just before the overtake happened,” but video footage showed a light panel directly in front of him at the time.

“The dashboard also indicated the red flag well before the overtake took place,” the report added, before disagreeing with Bearman’s assertion that slowing down would have been more dangerous than maintaining his pace.

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images

It will be seen as particularly galling for Bearman having been punished in Imola, and also because Sainz escaped any reprimands after Williams successfully pleaded his case following the Spaniard’s own red flag infringement earlier in FP2, albeit under different circumstances.

The 10-place penalty marks the first time in 13 years that a driver has been handed such a harsh punishment. Last time, it was given to Pastor Maldonado for unsportsmanlike conduct following an avoidable crash with Sergio Perez.

“I mean, of course, feeling a little bit hard done by, but I don't want to get too much into the details,” Bearman said after being purposefully knocked out in Q1 to avoid the “disaster” of accidentally eliminating Haas team-mate Esteban Ocon.

“Different things, but same outcome, unfortunately. I feel like it was a harsh penalty, honestly, for everything that happened. And I felt like there were some mitigating circumstances – namely the huge delta speed and the lack of time I had to react. But c'est la vie.”

The second qualifying session in Imola was delayed as stewards worked towards their decision to delete Bearman’s lap time, and Autosport understands team principals were informed of the FIA’s reasoning during their regular Friday evening meeting at the Monaco GP.

While Bearman was once again left frustrated by the FIA decision-makers, the punishment does present Haas with the means and opportunity to attempt a rogue strategy on Sunday as teams prepare for the first-ever mandatory two-stop race in F1 history.

Starting at the back of the grid gives Bearman complete strategic latitude for the grand prix, as Haas could elect to gamble on an early stop and make use of free air to reclaim ground around the pitstop cycle.

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images

“I think we can do something crazy and benefit from that,” Bearman said of his strategy options.

“I'm a bit sad because honestly, I think we could have been fighting for Q3 based on my feeling in Q1 just then. So that makes me a little sad. But what can you do?

“I'm not sure. I need to discuss with the guys. But I've had a few ideas and, you know, starting from last, we can take the maximum risk to try something. I'm not sure what that will end up being. But let's see.”