FIA, what are you saying? Bearman qualifies for Q2, but the lap gets deleted — and the explanation just doesn’t hold up.
During a surprising qualifying session at Imola, controversy struck once again — this time over the race direction’s reliability. Oliver Bearman, the young British driver for Haas, was excluded from Q1 for allegedly completing his lap under a red flag. But unfortunately for the FIA, the data tells a very different story.
According to an analysis by Federico Albano, based on official timing data, Bearman crossed the line just before the red flag came out. The issue? The FIA claims otherwise, stating a time that’s five seconds earlier than the actual moment the red flag was shown.
A timing discrepancy that’s hard to justify, especially considering that flag signals are transmitted in real-time through synchronized systems. This decision will surely fuel further debate and raise questions about a Federation already under fire.
FIA, a five-second gap in your timing?
Albano revealed that Bearman completed his lap at 16:32.21, while the red flag was officially triggered at 16:32.22. Yet, the FIA’s version puts the red flag at 16:32.17 — a full five seconds earlier.
This discrepancy doesn’t just affect Bearman’s position in the standings — it undermines the credibility of the entire race control system. How is it possible for there to be a five-second delay between track signals and the race director’s communication? In the case of a red flag, this isn’t just about fairness — it’s a safety concern.
So, a disastrous Saturday not just for Ferrari — but also for Haas, who are likely to file an appeal and seek further clarification from a Federation now at risk of damaging both its reputation and the outcome of the race.
Photo: Haas F1 Team
