Albon Frustrated After Crash with Bearman: ‘I Warned Him Earlier’

Alex Albon’s first practice session leading up to the Mexican Grand Prix came to an abrupt halt due to a collision with Ferrari newcomer Oliver Bearman, resulting in a crash into the wall. The impact was significant enough that the **Williams** team could not make timely repairs for the subsequent practice session, proving to be a significant setback for Albon, who is questioning why Bearman wasn’t warned sooner about his presence on the track.

Albon’s Frustration After Early Exit

In a post-session interview with Formula1.com, Albon expressed his concerns, stating, “I think Bearman was informed far too late about my position on the track.” Despite the collision, the Williams driver refrained from placing full blame on the rookie, who had driven Charles Leclerc’s car during the first practice. “He was trying his best to pick up speed, but it truly was just an unfortunate spot on the circuit,” Albon added.

The Incident: Detailed Analysis

Footage from onboard cameras reveals the critical moment leading to the collision, showing Albon attempting to avoid Bearman but ultimately losing control of his vehicle. As a result, Albon’s car grazed the rear end of the Ferrari, propelling him into the wall. Reflecting on the incident, Albon noted, “I was probably traveling around a hundred kilometers per hour faster. I don’t blame myself, nor do I lay all the responsibility on Bearman. The team should have alerted him sooner. It’s important to remember this is all new for him; the speeds are dramatically higher compared to Formula 2.”

Stewards’ Ruling and Consequences for Albon

Following the accident, stewards concluded that no further action was necessary. A report deemed Bearman’s positioning as “unfortunate but not unreasonable.” Due to the damage sustained by his FW46, Albon was unable to participate in the second practice, and he found some solace in the fact that many of his competitors were engaged in a tire test for Pirelli during that time. “It is indeed frustrating that I could .comy manage two laps,” Albon admitted, reflecting on the challenges he faced.

Leclerc’s Positive Turnaround

On the other hand, Charles Leclerc enjoyed a different fate, returning to “his” Ferrari for the second practice session after the team made swift repairs following the incident. He managed to clock the fourth-fastest time. “I felt good out there,” commented Leclerc, who celebrated his third victory of the season last week in Austin. “The long runs looked promising. The car was fixed very quickly post-practice one; thankfully, there wasn’t extensive damage,” he reassured, showcasing both team resilience and personal determination.

In a sport where every second counts, the interplay of strategy, communication, and raw speed makes each race weekend a compelling saga. As teams sharpen their approaches, drivers like Albon and Leclerc highlight the delicate balance of risk, skill, and preparation that defines their careers in formula racing.