Oliver Bearman will start the 2025 Dutch Grand Prix from the pit lane
British driver Oliver Bearman managed to qualify only at the very back of the grid, hindered by difficulties in extracting performance from the softest tire compound, which failed to deliver the extra grip the Haas team had expected. As a result, the team decided to replace the Power Unit on his car, meaning he will be forced to start the race from the pit lane.
The Dutch Grand Prix begins on a challenging note for Haas following yesterday’s disappointing qualifying session, with both of their cars eliminated in Q1 on a track that does not perfectly suit certain characteristics of the VF-25. However, the primary issue stems from the inability to properly exploit the soft tires, which, compared to other compounds, did not provide the anticipated peak grip.
It is no secret that, with such tight gaps in the midfield, teams must hunt for every last hundredth of a second to improve and stand out. This was precisely what Haas lacked, resulting in their drivers’ early elimination from the opening qualifying session.
“I think we are missing something regarding tire pressures and temperatures. Clearly, it is something we are not managing correctly, at least this weekend, because I feel I would have done the same qualifying on a hard tire,” explained Oliver Bearman, who on paper would have started from the last row, behind his teammate Esteban Ocon and ahead of only Lance Stroll, who crashed into the wall during the opening minutes of Q1.
In a race expected to involve a single pit stop, assuming stable and clear weather, and on a circuit where overtaking is challenging, the chances for a recovery are limited. For this reason, Haas wisely decided to take advantage of the situation by fitting a fresh Power Unit on Oliver Bearman’s car, accepting the penalty and starting from the pit lane.
The British driver’s car received its fifth engine, along with a new turbo, MGU-H, MGU-K, and a new control unit – all elements that exposed him to the risk of penalty. Since he would have started from the back regardless, Oliver Bearman will only lose one grid position but will at least have a fresh engine to use for the remainder of the season, staying within the regulations, especially considering he had already lost a unit when his previous Power Unit failed a few months ago in Miami.
Interestingly, on Saturday evening, a report from the FIA technical delegate indicated that Haas had failed to cover Oliver Bearman’s car within two hours after the checkered flag at the end of qualifying, as required by regulations. This could have resulted in an additional potential penalty.
Given the predicted one-stop race and the limited overtaking opportunities on the Zandvoort circuit, starting from the pit lane with a fresh Power Unit is a strategic move by Haas. While the setback confirms the team’s ongoing struggles in maximizing tire performance, it also ensures that Oliver Bearman has a competitive engine available for future races, mitigating the impact of this weekend’s qualifying disappointment.
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