Haas Committed Setup Error With Oliver Bearman Car
A configuration mistake during practice hampered the team's data collection at the Sepang circuit.
Updated on Oct. 3, 2026 in Motorsports
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Haas confirmed an operational error regarding the setup of Oliver Bearman's vehicle during the second practice session. This mistake prevented the collection of crucial performance data at the Sepang circuit.
Why it matters
The lost practice time left Bearman at a disadvantage when navigating the high tyre degradation levels at Sepang. This prevented the team from recovering necessary performance metrics for the qualifying rounds.
Bearman finished the second practice session in 16th position, ending the run three-tenths of a second slower than Esteban Ocon. High tyre degradation at the track limited performance to just one push lap per new set.
The players
Haas
An American-led Formula One racing team that competes at the highest level of international motorsport.
Oliver Bearman
A professional racing driver currently operating under the Haas banner.
Esteban Ocon
A professional Formula One driver who outperformed Bearman during the practice session at Sepang.
The details
The setup error during the practice session meant the team could not gather usable reference data, which proved costly as tyre wear allowed for only one push lap per set. Bearman was further hindered during qualifying when he locked the front-left brake at turn one.
Timeline
The setup error occurred during the second practice session on Friday, 2026-10-02.
Season Trajectory
This setup error impacts the broader team standings by limiting data optimization during a critical race weekend. Such operational lapses alter the competitive balance for the driver in subsequent qualifying rounds and future race day strategies.
The operational error forced an early elimination during the first round of qualifying. This performance gap forces the team to investigate the front-left brake locking issue to restore consistency for upcoming sessions.
The takeaway
Operational mistakes in complex racing environments can compromise an entire weekend due to limited tyre life and setup windows. Drivers and teams must maximize every single practice lap to maintain competitiveness in the current racing climate.
Further reading
For additional updates from the circuit, visit the Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RaceFans.
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