Holy crap, I can't believe what I just watched. 19-year-old Ollie Bearman just pulled the most audacious move I've seen in F1 qualifying since... well, probably since I started covering this circus back in 2016. The Haas rookie—who looked completely out of his depth during practice—somehow conjured a Q3 appearance at Suzuka using a trick he learned from a freaking video game.
Let me set the scene. It's Saturday in Japan. The track is baking under that relentless sun, there are literal fires breaking out trackside (more on that mess later), and nobody—NOBODY—expected the Haas cars to do anything special.
Wait, did he just say "iRacing"?
So there I am, coffee in hand, watching the post-qualifying interviews when Bearman drops this absolute gem about how he found time at the final chicane: "I was going as tight as I could to the wall. I don't know why not everyone is doing that... I thought that's the real iRacing line there."
I nearly spit out my $7 track coffee.
The kid literally took a racing line he learned from playing video games and applied it to one of the most technical tracks on teh calendar. And it worked! While his teammate Ocon languished down in P18 (poor guy), Bearman snuck into Q3 and grabbed P10.
From 15th to hero
What makes this even more remarkable is that Bearman hadn't even cracked the top 14 in any practice session. His best was somewhere around 15th. My colleague James bet me $50 that Haas wouldn't make it past Q1 with either car. Guess who's buying drinks tonight?
The teen was practically bouncing when he explained: "It was quite an unexpected result. I was really happy to be in Q2, so you can imagine how happy I was to be in Q3."
Listen. This is his first time racing at Suzuka. First. Time. Ever.
Those damn fires
The whole qualifying session was bizarre from start to finish. The wind kept whipping up these grass fires around the track perimeter, forcing red flags and delays. I've been coming to Suzuka since 2018 and never seen anything like it.
Verstappen eventually took pole with a record lap (because of course he did), followed by the McLaren boys Norris and Piastri. Leclerc and Russell rounded out the top 5.
But honestly, the rookies were the real story. Not just Bearman—Antonelli grabbed P6 and Hadjar P7, though the latter almost crashed after suffering what he described as an injury in a "sensitive area." Ouch.
The gaming generation has arrived
I've spent years listening to old-school racers dismiss sim racing as "just games." Well... who's laughing now?
Bearman's approach—taking more and more kerb each lap until finding the absolute limit—is exactly what sim racers do when they're hunting for those last few hundredths. "Every time I was doing it, I was gaining more lap time, so I thought, why not take a little more?" he explained.
The confidence is almost jarring. These kids come in without the fear that used to take veterans years to overcome.
Tomorrow's forecast: chaos
Weather reports show a cold front moving in for Sunday with possible showers. That should stop any more impromptu barbecues breaking out trackside, but it'll throw another variable into the mix for Bearman and the other rookies.
I'm genuinely curious to see if the iRacing line works as well in the wet. My prediction? This won't be the last time we hear about gaming techniques making their way into real F1 strategy.
And maybe—just maybe—I should dust off my own sim rig tonight. For research purposes, obviously.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the power units of Formula 1 cars
The Formula 1 power unit consists of a hybrid internal-combustion engine (ICE) with an Energy Recovery System. The ICE is a V6 turbocharged engine. Meanwhile, the ERS uses energy from the car exhaust and braking system to produce additional power. Combining both technologies increases not only the performance of the car but also its efficiency.
How often are Formula 1 teams developing new cars?
Formula 1 teams typically develop a new car for every season. This is due the the ever-changing technical regulations, and the relentless pursuit by the teams of better performance. The car is constantly being developed by the teams throughout the year, and they bring updates to races regularly to give them an edge in the championship.
How do Formula 1 teams transport equipment between races?
Formula 1 teams plan meticulously the logistics for transporting their cars, equipment, and parts globally. Trucks are commonly used to transport parts and equipment for European races. However, air cargo is the preferred method of transportation for long-distance or overseas events. Each team maintains a logistics division to ensure that everything arrives on schedule and in perfect condition. This is done by carefully managing a season-long complex schedule that crosses multiple continents.
Statistics
- As of the end of the 2022 season, Formula 1 races have been held in 34 different countries around the world.
- The 2020 Formula 1 season comprised the shortest calendar in recent history with just 17 races, due to the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Silverstone Circuit, home to the British Grand Prix, has hosted more Formula 1 races than any other circuit since the championship began in 1950.
- The Monaco Grand Prix is the shortest race on the Formula 1 calendar, with a total race distance of only 260.286 kilometers.
- Kimi Räikkönen holds the record for the fastest lap in Formula 1 history, set at the Italian Grand Prix in 2018 with an average speed of 263.587 km/h (163.785 mph).
- Sebastian Vettel became the youngest World Champion in Formula 1 history, securing his first title at the age of 23 years and 134 days in 2010.
- The fastest lap ever recorded in Formula 1 was set by Juan Pablo Montoya, reaching a top speed of 372.6 km/h (231.523 mph).
- Ferrari is the most successful team in Formula 1 history, with 16 Constructors' Championships to their name.
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Fans can experience the excitement and strategy of the race by listening to Formula 1 team radio broadcasts. To access team radios, subscribe to F1 TV Pro, which offers live streaming and additional feeds beyond the standard broadcast, including unfiltered team communications. The team radios are also available via dedicated race apps for a monthly fee. During live broadcasts, team radio snippets will be played to give viewers a look at the real-time challenges and decisions that drivers and teams face.
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