Bortoleto and Bearman face setbacks at Bahrain Grand Prix

During the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto collided with Williams driver Carlos Sainz on a wet track at Turn 2. Bortoleto, who had been running in eighth place, admitted to being ‘a bit optimistic’ and failing to realize the track surface was not fully dry. The incident resulted in a 10-second penalty for Bortoleto and damaged his front wing, causing him to finish 18th. Sainz, who had been managing a strong race and climbing from 13th to 6th, saw his points opportunity ruined by the contact, ultimately finishing 17th.

Separately, Oliver Bearman reported that a significant setup error by the Haas team during the second practice session (FP2) severely compromised his weekend. Bearman stated that the car was in a condition that ‘we would never intend to use in a race,’ noting that the incorrect configuration left him without sufficient data to prepare for qualifying. This technical issue contributed to his elimination in the first qualifying session (Q1), where he finished 18th.