Ollie Bearman’s horror weekend at the Australian Grand Prix has continued after his Haas car developed a gearbox issue moments into qualifying.
The Briton crashed in FP1 on Friday and was forced to miss the entire FP2 session due to repairs and an engine and gearbox change, and was early out in FP3.
However, just 2:56 into the session, he clipped the grass at Turn 11 and was spun into the gravel, beaching the car and bringing to an end his session.
It meant the Ferrari protege was left with just 13.5 laps to his name heading into qualifying at Albert Park.
On his out-lap, Bearman reported a gearbox issue, which he later radioed to say “was broken” as he limped back into the pits.
It means Haas must apply to the stewards for permission for Bearman to take to the start of the race, which will be granted due to his setting respectable lap-times in FP1.
