Bearman penalized 10 seconds for Gasly collision

Haas driver Oliver Bearman was found wholly to blame for his collision with Pierre Gasly at the United States Grand Prix and given a 10-second penalty. Bearman retired from the race after damage to his car worsened, while Gasly finished 10th and said damage to his Alpine hindered his fight for ninth. The contact happened during an attempted pass at Turn 13, according to accounts from the drivers and the stewards’ written decision. The stewards said Bearman’s front axle was not ahead of Gasly’s mirror at the corner’s apex when the cars collided. They determined Bearman was wholly to blame and imposed the penalty. Bearman disputed the punishment after the race, calling it excessive and arguing that he had been left too little room once he committed to the move. He said he tried to avoid contact but could not withdraw, and described the collision as a racing incident. He also argued that comparable incidents during the season had received five-second penalties or no penalty. The damage to Bearman’s Haas progressively worsened. He said the car became unpredictable and that he retired on lap 24 of 56. The penalty was served during the race, rather than carried over to a later...