Oliver Bearman, who has a seat secured with Haas for 2025, stepped in for Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc during FP1 at the Mexican Grand Prix, to fulfill the mandatory F1 rookie rule.

However, his session was cut short following contact with Alex Albon, leading to a heavy and costly crash for the Williams driver.

Bearman was on a cool-down lap and moved aside to let faster cars pass. Albon, meanwhile, was pushing hard on his lap and tried to lift off but encountered a sudden snap of oversteer, causing him to collide with the front left of Bearman’s Ferrari.

Albon blamed Bearman for the crash and called him an ‘idiot’ over the radio. Drivers were then summoned to the stewards to give their version of events.

Both drivers jumped out of their cars unharmed, and following a review of telemetry, radio, and onboard footage, along with statements from both drivers, the stewards have classified the incident as a racing incident.

“Both drivers agreed that Bearman’s positioning was not unreasonable, but was unfortunate as it was close to Albon’s line,” reads the stewards’ verdict.

“Had Bearman been slightly further down the track it would not have resulted in an incident. All parties agreed that it was a racing incident.”

Additionally, Robert Shwartzman, filling in for Stake’s Zhou Guanyu, was penalized with a five-place grid drop for overtaking under yellow flags, which he will serve in the first race he participates in.