P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Oliver Bearman banked a career-best finish in the Dutch GP, but almost lost the result due to a minor error.
Oliver Bearman narrowly avoided a catastrophe that could have ruined his career-best finish in the Dutch Grand Prix due to a minor mistake he made during the race.
Starting from the pit-lane in 19th place, Bearman and fellow Haas driver Esteban Ocon opted for a hard tire strategy, hoping to capitalize on a late safety car period by first running on C1 rubber.
Timing became crucial when they both stayed out during a safety car deployed for Lewis Hamilton, positioning themselves well as Charles Leclerc was exiting the pits, with Ocon making a timely stop just before Leclerc’s unfortunate incident with Kimi Antonelli.
Bearman took advantage of the subsequent safety car to switch to medium tires, propelling himself to seventh place on the track and ultimately finishing in a career-high sixth position, surpassing his previous best of seventh during his Ferrari debut at the 2024 Saudi Arabian GP.
Reflecting on the race, Bearman acknowledged the difficulties of managing tire wear and temperatures, especially when restarting on worn-out tires after safety car periods and facing challenges like flat-spotting upon braking due to track conditions.
Although thrilled with his achievement, Bearman admitted having to cope with tire vibrations in the final laps due to the unique characteristics of the track, emphasizing the delicate balance between performance and tire preservation in Formula 1 racing.
