Bearman says strict FIA rules make racing feel unnatural

Jul.21 (GMM)  Oliver Bearman has thrown his support behind Max Verstappen in calling out what they see as Formula 1's increasingly rigid and inconsistent stance on driver behaviour—both on and off the track.

The reigning world champion has recently voiced frustration at the FIA’s expanding list of racing and conduct rules, warning that they are beginning to interfere with drivers' natural instincts.

“In some battles, you feel like you can't really go for it,” Verstappen said earlier this month. “It almost feels unnatural.

“You're thinking, ‘Can I do this, or will I get a penalty?’ That's not racing.”

Bearman, 20, echoed Verstappen’s concerns in remarks published by Speed Week, using the case of Kevin Magnussen’s 2024 race ban as an example of the system’s flaws.

“I share Max's opinion,” said the Haas rookie. “A good example of this is Kevin Magnussen's race ban last year. His offenses back then were relatively minor, but not in terms of the total number of penalty points.

“I thought it was pretty harsh for him. There were moments like an attack that didn't work and both drivers going straight on. That didn't hurt anyone. For an action like that, which was never dangerous, he received two penalty points.”

Bearman himself fell foul of the rules at his home race at Silverstone, receiving four penalty points and a ten-place grid drop for a red flag infringement—an experience that left him critical of the current penalty structure.

“What you get points for now can add up quickly,” he said. “We drivers want to fight wheel-to-wheel, and ultimately, that's what the fans want to see. If a maneuver was unfair, then I'm also in favour of it being penalized—but we have to find an appropriate balance.”

He agrees with Verstappen that racing instincts are being suppressed by constant fear of penalty.

“It can happen that you suddenly think of a point in the guidelines and therefore let your opponent pass again. And that feels unnatural,” he said.

“In the heat of the moment, there's no time to recall all the instructions. You make decisions in a split second. You're certainly not thinking about a five-page FIA document.

“I understand the approach of the FIA, and we also want consistent assessments of duels. But that's simply difficult in certain situations.”]]>