FIA approve Bearman participation in 2025 F1 Australian Grand Prix

The FIA race stewards have confirmed that they will allow Haas F1 Team’s Oliver Bearman to participate in Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix despite not setting a lap time in qualifying.

Feature image credit: Haas F1

The Australian Grand Prix has been an unmitigated disaster for the Briton who embarked on his first full-time Formula 1 season this weekend, following two in-event appearances for the team in 2024.

During qualifying, Bearman went out as usual but quickly peeled back into the pit lane with reported gearbox problems. The British driver did not pull back out of the pit lane, and failed to set a lap time on the board. 

Following qualifying, the FIA stewards confirmed they had received a request from Haas to grant permission for Bearman to start the race. The stewards confirmed they would allow the Haas driver to compete, stating they were satisfied by his times in practice. 

In the report, they said: 

“The Stewards have received a request from MoneyGram Haas F1 Team to allow car 87 to start the Race despite failing to set a lap time in Q1.

“In accordance with Article 39.4 b) of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations, the Stewards grant permission for car 87, Oliver Bearman, to start the Race, as the driver has set satisfactory times in practice at this Competition. 

“The car will be placed on the grid in accordance with Article 42.1 of the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations.”

Q1 | Ollie’s reporting a problem with his gearbox and heads straight back into the pits.#HaasF1 #F1 #AusGP

— MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (@HaasF1Team) March 15, 2025

As Bearman was not able to complete a timed lap, the British driver was deemed unclassified. As per the sporting regulations, he was not able to satisfy the 107% rule, to ensure he was fast enough to race. 

Following the regulations, the stewards are allowed to take a suitable lap time from another practice session Bearman competed in. 

However, across the weekend, Bearman only completed 12 laps (in FP1) over the entire weekend so far after he crashed out in first practice, missed FP2 due to the earlier crash and beached his car in FP3. 

“It’s disappointing to not get a lap on the board but it’s been a messy weekend so far,” Bearman said. “I think tomorrow will be interesting, and then we can move on. 

“As a team we’ve struggled a little bit and of course I haven’t run all weekend, and that’s made it tough for the team to understand as they’ve been only running one car, so I can only apologise to the team.”

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Who finished where: 2025 F1 Australian GP – Qualifying
• Norris snatches pole from Piastri at Australian GP
• Piastri fastest in final practice of home Australian GP
• Leclerc fastest in Australian GP FP2 ahead of both McLarens
• Lando Norris fastest in F1 Australian GP FP1 as Bearman crashes
• Stefano Domenicali remains F1 President and CEO through 2029

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.