Russell misplaced management of his Williams after dropping a wheel on to the grass late within the session however managed to keep away from any harm.
Behind the Briton, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was eighth, cut up from his team-mate Lance Stroll by French rookie Isack Hadjar within the Racing Bull.
Bearman’s crash introduced out a purple flag, stopping the session for 10 minutes whereas his broken automobile was cleared from the observe.
It was the second stoppage of the session after officers introduced out the purple flag to clear gravel from the circuit on the exit of Flip Six, dragged there by Australian rookie Jack Doohan within the Alpine.
Shortly after operating resumed, Piastri additionally ran barely vast on the nook, probably the most tough on the observe, and introduced recent gravel on to the circuit however the session continued.
The wall and kerb on the nook have been reworked for this yr’s race to attempt to keep away from the kind of accidents that bothered each Russell and Albon final yr, when each crashed closely and bounced again on to the observe, coming to relaxation in the course of the circuit.
However the FIA could have to have a look at the nook once more to cease repeated stoppages for gravel on the observe this weekend.
Off observe, there was a big growth after it emerged that every one 10 groups have now signed their business agreements with F1, committing them to the game till 2030.
Earlier than their present offers run out on the finish of this season, they nonetheless have to barter their contracts with governing physique the FIA, which can take a while.
