Bearman Praises 'Insane' Haas After Strong P4 in Abu Dhabi FP2

Oliver Bearman ended a roller-coaster opening day at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with an impressive fourth-fastest time in Friday’s second practice session, signaling strong confidence in the Haas car. His performance, especially under the Yas Marina floodlights, has set high expectations for the young Briton and the team for the remainder of the weekend.

Why it matters:

• Bearman's standout P4 finish in FP2 highlights the potential of the Haas car, especially after a challenging start to his day.
• This strong showing could be crucial for Haas, who are locked in a tight battle with Aston Martin for seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, where every point is invaluable.
• It also builds on Bearman's previous impressive P4 in Mexico, further cementing his reputation as a promising talent.

The details:

• FP1 Challenges: Bearman's Friday began with a power loss due to a sensor issue, forcing him to spend significant time in the pits. Despite limited running, he felt the underlying pace of the car from his brief medium-tire stint.
• FP2 Breakthrough: In the second practice session, Bearman consistently set rapid laps on soft tires, finishing just four-tenths behind session leader Lando Norris.
• Bearman's Reaction: Over team radio, Bearman exclaimed, “Mate, the car is insane! I don’t know how it’s so good,” reflecting his surprise and satisfaction with the car’s performance.
• Tight Midfield: The midfield is incredibly competitive, with only tenths separating multiple cars. Bearman acknowledged this, stating, “We’re four tenths away but five tenths puts you outside the top 10, so it’s going to be really important to optimize everything for tomorrow.”
• Qualifying Focus: Given Friday's pace, the team might bias their setup slightly more towards qualifying performance than usual, even though they traditionally show better race pace.

What's next:

Bearman is now firmly in contention for a strong qualifying performance, aiming for a second top-five finish this season. His ability to run closely with established drivers like George Russell further fuels his confidence for Saturday.

• The focus will be on optimizing every aspect for qualifying to secure a strong grid position, which will be vital for scoring points in the Constructors' Championship.
• If the pace shown in FP2 translates into qualifying and race performance, Bearman could be on the verge of another special weekend, significantly impacting Haas's championship standing.