Source link : https://motorsports-news.org/2026/04/07/formula-1/david-coulthard-lifts-lid-on-actuality-of-f1-closing-speeds-after-ollie-bearmans-50g-crash/
Former System 1 driver David Coulthard has spoken out in regards to the actuality of closing speeds within the championship following Ollie Bearman’s huge 50G shunt throughout the Japanese Grand Prix.
The Haas driver narrowly averted the rear of Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who was harvesting power on the time, earlier than crashing into the boundaries. Whereas he limped away from the wreck, Bearman was later cleared by the on-site medical crew.
Reflecting on the crash throughout the Up To Pace podcast, Coulthard drew parallels to a detailed name of his personal involving Fernando Alonso within the late Nineties.
“As an ex-driver, I can really feel that closing velocity. I had nearly an incident with Fernando Alonso method again in, it was most likely ’98 or ’99 on the Nurburgring in Germany the place he backed off 20m sooner than the earlier lap, and I got here this near hitting him.
“Ended up avoiding [Alonso], going into the gravel out of the grand prix, and I bear in mind going to the stewards afterwards and being exasperated as a result of that would have been an aeroplane crash.
“The closing speeds are probably the most scary factor for a race driver, and we have seen it a couple of occasions in moist climate racing the place the driving force cannot see the automobile in entrance. Schumacher on me in Spa again within the day, and I bear in mind Senna in Australia when he was at McLaren.
“So Bearman was very fortunate to not hit the again of…
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Author : Motorsports
Publish date : 2026-04-07 12:24:00
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