Oliver Bearman wanted to head home and reset after finishing 17th in Brazil. In comments published on November 11, he described the United States, Mexico City and Sao Paulo run as a “horrible three weeks”. Haas scored one point across those races while Audi collected five, leaving just three points between them in the fight for seventh in the constructors’ standings.
Slow stops disrupt the Brazil opportunity
Bearman qualified in the top ten in wet conditions, but early contact with Fernando Alonso sent both cars wide. He said he lost places at the start and then recovered them, roughly cancelling out that setback. Slow pit stops subsequently undermined his race.
One stop dropped him from tenth to 17th. Changing rain created repeated strategic decisions, but he could not make up the time lost in the pits through pace on track. He finished 17th, unable to turn his qualifying position into points.
“I just want to go home and reset,” Bearman said. He felt Haas had missed two opportunities to score during the three-week run and needed to move on and improve.
Two earlier retirements with different causes
In Austin, contact while battling Pierre Gasly brought a ten-second penalty from the stewards and substantial car damage before retirement. Bearman said at the time that Gasly had left space, but he felt it was too narrow once he was committed to the inside. The damage had already ruined his race, adding to his frustration over the penalty.
In Mexico City, Nico Hulkenberg hit him from behind approaching Turn 4, causing damage and another retirement. Bearman said his pace had been strong and he was fighting for points before the impact left him facing the wrong way as the field passed.
Haas still collected a point there, with stand-in Ryo Hirakawa classified tenth. That was the team’s entire return from the triple-header.
The fight for seventh tightens
Hulkenberg took the final point in Brazil despite a ten-second penalty. Across the three events Audi therefore outscored Haas five to one, cutting the gap by four points to three. With three rounds remaining, the run of missed opportunities has reduced Haas’ margin.
