Ollie Bearman expressed surprise after showing strong performance in the Sprint Qualifying session ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix. The Haas driver secured ninth place in Sprint Qualifying 3 (SQ3) at the Shanghai International Circuit, setting himself up to start the 19-lap Sprint race from the ninth position.
Bearman demonstrated consistent pace throughout the session, having ended the single, one-hour practice session in seventh place before progressing into the final qualifying round. He commented, “We showed really good pace already from lap one of FP1 and we were able to build on that and go forward.”
Strong Pace Despite Challenges
Bearman acknowledged that the session was challenging due to the car’s balance being "a bit on edge," yet he managed to assemble a clean lap to secure a respectable qualifying position. He said, “It was a tough session, the balance was a bit on edge and difficult to put the lap together but we got there in the end and happy with P9 today.”
Starting directly behind Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Bearman views scoring points in the Sprint race a feasible ambition. Points are awarded to the top eight finishers, and starting ninth places Bearman on the cusp of entering that scoring group.
Closing Gap to the Leaders
This performance marks progress compared to last week’s opening round in Australia, where Bearman finished seventh. He noted that the gap to the leading teams has narrowed more than initially anticipated. “We seem to have closed it a little bit compared to last week, and honestly prior to the weekend, I was not expecting to be in the fight for the top eight because we expected the four teams to be so far ahead,” Bearman explained.
He further observed that Red Bull did not demonstrate “incredible pace” during qualifying, suggesting that if Haas optimizes their performance in the Sprint, points are within reach. Bearman added, “It looks like if we get everything right tomorrow we can actually score some points, and then obviously in the race on Sunday, that’s where it gets serious.”
Team Dynamics and Challenges
Haas teammate Esteban Ocon faced a tougher session, narrowly missing advancement to SQ3 by qualifying 12th. Ocon expressed frustration regarding the car’s performance, noting that although there was slight improvement from practice, the team still has areas to address.
He stated, “Not really pleased, we can’t be pleased with that. We are working hard to obviously get the car where we want it to be.” Ocon emphasized the need for further investigation and adjustments ahead of Sunday’s race to maximize the car’s potential.
Outlook for the Sprint and Race Weekend
Haas appears to be making meaningful strides in closing the competitive gap within the field. Bearman’s surprise at the pace shown indicates an evolving dynamic at Haas, where scoring points in the Sprint is now a tangible target. The team must maintain focus on optimizing setup and strategy to capitalize on their qualifying results as they prepare for the 19-lap Sprint and the main race the following day.