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F1 must find answers to safety crisis after Bearman’s escape but there are no easy fixes
F1 has five weeks before the next race in Miami and they will need every minute to fix a hugely complicated problem
TL;DR
- Oliver Bearman escaped unhurt from a high-speed crash at the Japanese Grand Prix, but the incident revealed a significant safety issue in F1.
- The crash was caused by a large speed differential between Bearman's Haas and Franco Colapinto's Alpine, stemming from the deployment and recovery of electrical energy under the new F1 regulations.
- Finding a solution is complicated due to the intricate nature of the new engine regulations, where changes in one area affect others.
- The use of electrical energy and its recovery is at the heart of the problem, with discussions around modifying 'super-clipping' and its potential consequences.
- Alternative solutions, such as increasing internal combustion engine power, would require significant car redesigns and may not be agreed upon.
- Despite the complexity, there is a shared will within the F1 community to address the safety issue, especially after Bearman's crash.