Esteban Ocon has outlined how his time with Haas in Formula 1 has “incredibly surprised” him so far after spending a stint at Alpine that ultimately ended in disarray.

The Frenchman spent five years at the Enstone-based team between 2020 and 2024, famously taking his maiden race victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021.

But despite his dependable results, his time with long-time karting rival Pierre Gasly last year meant he was unceremoniously ousted from the team at the end of 2024.

Following contact with Gasly in Monaco, then Team Principal Bruno Famin had threatened Ocon with “consequences”. A month later, it was announced he would be leaving.

However, he quickly signed with Haas for 2025 and beyond, partnering rookie Oliver Bearman in a brand-new line-up at the team.

And looking back at the 14 races he has raced to date with the Kannapolis-based squad, Ocon was quick to draw a contrasting parallel between the two outfits.

“Compared to my previous experience, it’s a healthy environment,” Ocon told Motorsport.com.

“As I said, no one’s hiding behind anything. If we don’t do something right, we talk about it and hope not to do it again. And we talk about it straight away at the end of the race.

“And that’s good, because if you don’t talk about it – which is what I’ve experienced before – then you [are] going to do it again. That’s the main thing.

“This team is incredibly motivated. It can sound crazy, but I’ve seen some people not motivated in the past, even working in the Formula 1 paddock. That’s probably the worst thing.

“As a driver like me – who puts his heart and sweat into the work, to do everything perfect before I get to the track – when you turn up and you see somebody looking at his check-in on Monday, it’s quite tough. And I’ve seen that in the past.”

Ocon Hails Haas’ fighting mentality

Since the team’s debut on the grid in 2016, Haas has been one of the smallest outfits in the paddock in terms of budget.

Yet, Ocon, who has only been with the team since December last year, and has worked with teams like Mercedes in the past, was surprised by how innovative and steadfast the team is.

“Now, I’m not going to say everything’s perfect. There are things that we need to improve, obviously. But we have a very solid base to work on since I joined, and we are moving forward. And I’m glad with the way it’s going,” Ocon continued.

“Designing a steering wheel with a double clutch, it took them a month, which was ridiculous.

“I was incredibly surprised with that, and I’ve never seen any other team do that, even the big ones that I worked with. Normally it takes a lot of time for that to come.

“We were claimed to be the smallest team. We are. But, you know, some of these reactions are top class.”

READ MORE – FIA releases statement in response to ‘baseless and untrue’ allegations made by GPDA chairman

The post Esteban Ocon outlines how ‘healthy’ Haas F1 environment differs to Alpine appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Oliver Bearman says Haas’ Silverstone upgrade has left him genuinely astonished, giving him a “crazy” boost in confidence for the second half of the Formula 1 season.

The British driver got off to a rocky start in Melbourne, crashing out of FP1 and ultimately qualifying last for the race.

He recovered in the next three rounds, scoring points in China, Japan, and Bahrain. But during the middle stretch of the European leg, Bearman endured a punishing seven-race points drought leading into the British Grand Prix.

However, Haas’ introduction of a revised floor and updated sidepod inlets had an immediate impact at Silverstone, helping the rookie secure his best qualifying result of the season, eighth.

A 10-place grid penalty for ignoring red flags in practice saw him start 18th, extending his pointless streak into Belgium.

The boost in confidence from the upgrade, however, helped him end that run in the Sprint at Spa-Francorchamps, finishing seventh.

In Budapest, he looked set for further points after outqualifying his experienced team-mate Esteban Ocon, only for a mechanical failure to dash those hopes.

The impact of the Haas upgrade was clear to Bearman, who described a dramatic shift in his confidence behind the wheel.

“I haven’t found my confidence until we brought the Silverstone upgrade to the car,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “Since then, I’ve had a really good feeling, and I’ve been able to replicate that feeling – and that’s crazy.

“You can’t describe it, but you chase it, you chase it, you chase it and when you can have it, it’s very special.

“It’s a car that I feel fully comfortable in. Of course, I tried to feel as comfortable as possible in the previous car, but it’s difficult when the balance is tough. Now we’ve managed to replicate that, and from now, I think we can do a lot with this car.”

Bearman eyes points surge after Silverstone upgrade

Despite his recent confidence boost, the 20-year-old has accumulated just eight points so far in 2025, the lowest total of any points-scoring driver, leaving him 19th in the Drivers’ Standings.

That hasn’t stopped Bearman from remaining cautiously optimistic that he can build on the momentum from the Silverstone upgrade and continue improving after the summer break, when F1 returns for the Dutch Grand Prix.

“I hope we can replicate the feeling that I’ve had in the previous two races,” said Bearman, who is 19 points behind Ocon. 

“In both qualifying and in the race, there’s been a few shortcomings from both sides: Silverstone I had a penalty, Spa we simply missed out on opportunities.

“But clearly, the car has pace, so there is a lot of potential there. Step by step, we’re going to improve and get better.

“I hope we can keep up this level of performance, and then I think we can score some good points going into the second half of the season.”

Next up on the calendar is Zandvoort, a circuit Bearman last tackled in 2023 during his Formula 2 days with PREMA Racing.

READ MORE – Why Haas recovery in F1 2025 is down to an ‘educated guess’

The post Oliver Bearman expresses disbelief at ‘crazy’ confidence boost from recent Haas F1 upgrade appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Haas‘ progress after its woeful start to the 2025 Formula 1 season is partly down to what Team Principal Ayao Komatsu described as an “educated guess”.

The American squad will have justly felt reason to worry after the opening round in Australia, when both Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman were well off the pace.

The team’s VF-25 challenger proved to be woefully unstable in high-speed corners, a complexity discovered around the Albert Park Circuit.

The issue was not one that was easily discoverable during the early phases of testing, with the team’s wind tunnel and rolling road not showing up the problem.

A potential culprit was the design of the floor, but with little time to make a fully informed decision, Komatsu green-lit a quick tweak which eventually worked wonders.

“Simplistically, you cannot run the [current] car on the ground, in the wind tunnel, because you’re going to break the belt – but also, certain conditions, you cannot replicate in the wind tunnel,” Komatsu explained to media including Motorsport Week.

“We have a metric to assess those things, which we thought was good, because last year we didn’t drive into the problem.

“But many other teams drove into the problem last year because they were a bit ahead of our metric.

“And, until I think you see the problem, you’re not going to know.

“So the specific issue we had, we just didn’t have the methodology to predict it through CFD and then to assess the wind tunnel result correctly.

“Once we saw the real issue in Melbourne, then we had to literally step back every single thing we’ve done in the development from the end of the VF-24 to the VF-25 and then trying to see ‘OK, let’s say if you draw this threshold here with the metric, it’s OK up until this point’ – but clearly that was wrong.”

Suzuka ‘hypothesis’ luckily paid dividends for Haas

Komatsu said that once the problem was, to some extent, understood by the team, work was put in place to rectify it as early as the Japanese Grand Prix, two rounds later.

“So in terms of the metric itself we are looking at, it wasn’t good enough, but also the threshold was too aggressive,” he explained.

“So once you understand that one thing, it was how can we then modify the car to reduce that effect, which we did a first step in Suzuka.

“It was, I wouldn’t say stab in the dark, it was an educated guess, but like I said back then we didn’t have time to wind tunnel test it. We looked at everything, we thought ‘OK, with our best understanding, we think this is the issue’.”

Whilst both cars scored points in China, with the original design before Japan, the track layout enabled the positive elements of the car to be shown.

But Bearman’s point-scoring 10th-place finish at Suzuka gave Komatsu the reassurance he needed to know that the guesswork was, as it turned out, correct.

“We did two things for Suzuka, and then we put that part in the wind tunnel later on retrospectively, and we saw that it improved,” he continued.

“It was a hypothesis, but of course until we started running in Suzuka we didn’t know. What I was really pleased about was we were actually right: that the assumption was right, the educated guess was right.

“That gave us confidence that we can keep improving this condition for the next development, which was Imola. It may not have increased our absolute pace that much, but certainly made the car more robust against that kind of condition.

“Then you can really think about putting more performance on the car, which is what you saw in Silverstone.”

READ MORE – How Nico Hulkenberg helped Haas discover harmony with new F1 driver line-up

The post Why Haas recovery in F1 2025 is down to an ‘educated guess’ appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has revealed that Nico Hulkenberg has unknowingly helped the Formula 1 team build a harmonious relationship with its new driver line-up.

The American squad signed up a brand new driver pairing for 2025, pairing established Frenchman Esteban Ocon with exciting British rookie Oliver Bearman.

And so far, the partnership has shown some positivity, with the duo ensuring the team has scored points in half of the 14 Grands Prix held so far.

The only potential fissure within the partnership came at Silverstone, when the first rule of not crashing into your team-mate was broken, but the issue was quickly resolved.

Komatsu has spoken openly about how pleased he is with his new line-up and praised their team ethic.

“Honestly, both of them have been great team players,” he told media including Motorsport Week.

“Silverstone was a very specific circumstance where there was only one dry line, so it caused the issue.

“But none of them were intentional. We had a very good chat and it was totally fine.”

Komatsu revealed that Ocon and Bearman have both shown duty to the team, adhering to its instructions faultlessly, citing a particular moment at the Belgian Grand Prix as an example.

“Even before that point, every single time we had to issue a team order, every single time, there were zero questions,” he highlighted. “They do it straight away.

“In Spa, before the Sprint, we were next to each other. P5 and P7. I spoke to both of them before the Sprint, ‘[Here is] what we are going to do’. Totally clear.

“No issue whatsoever. Then we had to split the downforce level for the main qualifying and the race, because of uncertainty with the weather.

“Sunday morning, we had a chat, because with that much difference in the downforce level, at a certain point, one car is going to be so much quicker than the other.

“So we sat down, the three of us talked. It was totally clear. In the race, Esteban just said I’ll let Ollie pass now. We didn’t even ask, that’s it.”

‘Trust, transparency and respect’ – the cornerstones of Haas harmony

Komatsu explained that the team has built a solid environment on which the harmony is based, which the drivers have bought into.

Many might have questioned the dynamic between Ocon and Bearman, the former having previous instances of needle between team-mates such as Sergio Perez and Pierre Gasly.

But Komatsu explained that the values of the team are clear and have helped to create a positive culture.

“When you guys were asking about this towards the end of last year, I said I was confident – but I wasn’t saying that just to be saying it,” he explained.

“I really believed if we built up a foundation with the trust and respect between the drivers and the team, if the foundation is there, because we’re not going to do everything right away every time.

“Some team orders we’re going to issue might be a mistake, but as long as we got the foundation of trust, transparency and respect, none of it will be escalated.

“If we make mistakes, we’re going to talk about it after the race in a completely open manner, like we did in Silverstone.

“We sat down, we talked about it. We all said our observations and opinions. We said ‘this is what we’re going to do going forward’. 

“Zero issues. So for me, that’s the key, just the foundation, just the trust, transparency, respect.”

Hulkenberg provided Haas with a ‘new baseline’

Komatsu outlined why he believes Hulkenberg was the figure who helped him provide the harmony the team is enjoying now, despite the German switching to rivals Sauber.

The veteran, who returned to F1 with Haas in 2023 after a three-year hiatus, scored 41 points last year with 10 top 10 finishes.

Komatsu puts this down to what he described as the “baseline” for how the team is progressing now.

“You can ask Nico why did he perform so well last year?” he said. “We really had a very, very good relationship

“I’ve been doing this for 22 years, or something like this. Last year, the relationship we built with Nico gave me a new baseline.

“This is what we need to achieve with any driver, because then that’s a performing environment.

“Everyone is a human being. If a driver doesn’t trust the team, the team doesn’t trust the driver, if you feel this decision is forced upon me, of course, it’s not going to be the best.

“It’s not even a racing thing. It’s just a more fundamental human quality. Respect, transparency, honesty, inclusion. All that is what we’re trying to build inside this team.

“Esteban had experienced many years in F1, good and bad. Now I feel like we have got this foundation.

“Of course, it’s something you’ve got to build on every single time.

“It’s not like ‘Okay, we got there. Fine, forget about it’. No, every situation is different. Every scenario is different. We are doing that, I think fundamental trust there.”

READ MORE – Why surprise Haas F1 test was an ‘audition’ for Toyota driver

The post How Nico Hulkenberg helped Haas discover harmony with new F1 driver line-up appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Toyota has stated that Sho Tsuboi’s test for Haas earlier this month was an “audition” to prove himself worthy of a place in Formula 1 in the future.

The 30-year-old, a Toyota-backed driver, was given the test after winning the Super Formula series back in his Japanese homeland last year.

Held at the Toyota-owned Fuji Speedway, Tsuboi drove the VF-23 on August 7, as part of the TPC programme with Haas, which shares a technical partnership with the Japanese marque.

For Toyota, it would be an added bonus for a partisan driver to be given as good a shot as possible to seek a potential F1 seat.

And for its Director of Global Motorsport, Masaya Kaji, the test was an opportunity for Tsuboi to equip himself with the car, and with the team as a whole.

“What comes next totally depends on Tsuboi’s performance and on his communication with the team,” he told Autosport.

“This is a kind of audition, or selection. It’s not just for his experience. We would like to assess his real level of performance.

“He must make a big effort especially to communicate in English. But the main target is to understand his potential. 

“Currently his performance is the best among the Japanese drivers, so it’s quite interesting for us, also for the other drivers in Japan and motorsport fans.”

Tsuboi Haas test ‘not a reward’ for Super Formula title win

Kaji explained that the test was not merely a gift for his Super Formula title victory, a series that has provided a good education for drivers who have gone on to F1 in the past.

“To be honest, we don’t have any clear boundaries,” he explained.

“Tsuboi has very good potential, so it’s not only about his results. The test is not a reward for becoming Super Formula champion. 

“We will not have the same situation for other drivers [in future] who become champion. It is purely based on performance.”

Another Japanese driver featured in the test, with Ryo Hirakawa also taking to the track the day before.

The 31-year-old was signed to be Haas’ reserve driver for this year, and has had two FP1 outings at Bahrain and Barcelona.

Hirakawa switched from Alpine to Haas just after the season began due to his Toyota links, and Kaji is keen to provide him with further chances.

“At the moment, we want to give him as much experience as we can,” he added.

“It’s important to give him the environment where he can focus on driving, regardless of the team or the car.”

READ MORE – Haas urged to replicate Red Bull setup with Cadillac F1 alliance

The post Why surprise Haas F1 test was an ‘audition’ for Toyota driver appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Ralf Schumacher says Gene Haas does not need to sell his Formula 1 team and could instead take inspiration from Red Bull with Cadillac‘s impending entry in 2026.

The Kannapolis-based squad has been the perennial underdog of the sport ever since its debut on the grid in 2016.

And while Haas has been able to stay afloat despite its meagre budget, when compared to some of the other teams alongside it, with F1’s skyrocketing appeal, sharks may have already started circling the 72-year-old to take the team off his hands.

Haas boss Ayao Komatsu recently revealed that the team has been thwarting takeover attempts as Haas has no plans whatsoever to vacate his place in the paddock.

“Honestly, [Gene Haas has] seen lots of changes,” he explained earlier this year. “He’s so engaged now. He understands the details as well.

“What’s the best way to put it? He’s always been very passionate about the sport and the result. He always wants us to improve, which is what we need from the owner. He was always behind us.

“I don’t know everything, but in the last 18 months he’s had numerous offers to buy the team.

“He’s not interested. He really enjoys being the owner of the F1 team. Currently one out of 10, from next year one out of 11. That’s such a privileged position to be in.

“He came in at a time when F1 wasn’t like this. He stuck with us during such a difficult period of COVID. Now he’s enjoying it.”

Haas can find a junior team in Cadillac

The 2026 F1 season will not only feature a completely revamped formula but also an 11th team on the grid with Cadillac.

The General Motors-backed project will begin as a Ferrari customer team – much like Haas is now – and evolve into a factory works outfit by 2028.

Haas might not be interested in selling his team, but is he impeding its success?

Schumacher doesn’t believe so and rather suggests that Haas could look to the Milton Keynes-based squad for inspiration and enlist Cadillac as its B-team.

“I would look for a partner – as a junior team, like Racing Bulls for Red Bull,” he told BILD.

“Maybe Cadillac would be an option when they enter Formula 1 next year.

“All teams now have the problem that they hardly dare to bring in young drivers – the idea of a junior team could be the solution.”

READ MORE – Oscar Piastri insists 2026 F1 regulations require fine-tuning to produce ‘the best show’

The post Haas urged to replicate Red Bull setup with Cadillac F1 alliance appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Haas is preparing a late-season upgrade package for the United States Grand Prix, despite a substantial regulation change looming in Formula 1 for 2026.

The season got off to a rocky start for the American outfit, with both drivers eliminated in Q1 in Australia as the VF-25’s high-speed limitation became apparent.

The team responded quickly, though, introducing a revised floor at the Japanese Grand Prix and following up with further updates at Imola and Silverstone.

Those revisions have helped Haas establish itself in a tightly contested midfield battle, with just 17 points separating sixth through ninth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Despite a major regulation overhaul coming in 2026, Haas appears to be the only team actively planning a late-season upgrade package.

The rumours had circulated, and Williams’ boss James Vowles had hinted at such moves, and it was confirmed by Haas’s Deputy Chief Designer, Jonathan Heal.

Ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix, he revealed that Haas is contemplating a potential upgrade for the race in Texas, among the team’s three home races.

“So, at the moment we are still working to try to bring an upgrade,” Heal told media including Motorsport Week.

“If we manage to make something which is good enough to justify the spend, we will do one more upgrade this season. We are still finalising that at the moment.”

As for the reasons behind Haas’ thinking, Heal went on to explain: “Sometimes it’s better to fight the championship which you are in.

“Next year will be a lottery for lots of reasons, engines and things like that. So, for us it’s important to do well.”

Midfield margins and budget constraints shape Haas’ strategy

When asked about the decision-making behind introducing additional upgrades, Heal highlighted just how tight the midfield battle has become this season.

“One tenth of a second can be five places on the grid,” he added. “So, this year, it is much stricter where you don’t say I want two-tenths or three-tenths of a second from a package.

“Even one tenth of a second can make a difference between where we are fighting.”

However, with the budget cap in play, every upgrade has to justify itself not just in lap times, but in terms of cost and development effort.

“Under [the] budget cap, cost is also a big driver,” he admitted. “I think all of the work that we do now has to have a cost factor in there.

“There are lots of pieces that we have designed that never arrive on track just because the advantage, which they have in the wind tunnel, never gets brought forward; it is never enough to justify the spend.”

On the matter of the upgrade, Heal explained why the team has targeted the Circuit of the Americas for the next potential package.

“Traditionally, we have tried to bring a package for that,” he said. “It is the last part of the season, so breaking it up into races is where it fits in our development cycles.

“We brought one in Race 12, so Race 19 is another seven races. That’s our development for big packages of floors.”

READ MORE – When Esteban Ocon feared Haas’ 2025 F1 season was going to be a ‘lost cause’

The post Why Haas is planning late-season upgrade package despite 2026 F1 rules change appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Esteban Ocon has conceded that he was concerned that Haas’ 2025 Formula 1 season would be a “lost cause” after the team endured a disastrous start in Australia.

Haas headed into the opening race in Melbourne having undergone a seamless pre-season where mileage and long-run data took precedence over outright lap times.

However, the Kannapolis-based squad was soon dealt a tremendous blow as the Albert Park Circuit laid bare a glaring limitation with the VF-25 in high-speed corners.

With no short-term solution to the unexpected issue, Ocon and team-mate Oliver Bearman were eliminated in Q1, a worrying six-tenths behind the cut-off point for Q2.

However, Haas rebounded with both drivers amassing points at the second race in China, which preceded a revised floor being accelerated to the next event in Japan.

With more updates arriving at Imola and Silverstone, Haas has steadied the ship to be engaged in a close midfield battle, where 17 points cover sixth through to ninth.

Ocon has commended the team’s response to that initial setback, as he recalled how he departed the season-opener fearing that Haas would be resigned to the back.

Asked to summarise how his debut campaign with Haas has gone, Ocon told media including Motorsport Week: “Going in the good direction, I would say.

“It hasn’t been smooth the whole time, but we were able to get some weekends where we thought, OK, that was a really strong one.

“There was nothing we could have done better and there was a lot of learning.

“We started, clearly, as the last car in Australia, and we fought back in a magnificent way.

“The team was able to react to certain situations in a way that I felt [that] it was a lost cause, and that wasn’t the case.

“It’s been great to see how much pride the team takes when we do certain results, and I’m really proud of everyone in the way we’ve been able to deliver and improve.

“We set ourselves in a good position now where it’s a tight midfield, and we need to deliver every time we are out there, and that will make the difference at the end of the year.”

How Haas avoided ‘catastrophic’ problem

Haas boss Ayao Komatsu believes the team’s approach to overcoming the problem – which he likened to a “bomb” – is a testament to the culture that’s been produced.

“After Imola, we knew we [were] on top of that Melbourne issue, so then we could do a normal upgrade for Silverstone, which was pretty good, I would say,” he said.

“I think especially considering who we are, I think we proved again, like last year, I think our development was excellent.

“And then with the VF-25, now with the Silverstone upgrade, we’ve got a car we can fight in the top 10 with if we execute every single time.

“I think every weekend, we’ve got to take it one step at a time, just do the best job possible.

“I think I said this bit many, many races ago: if that had happened 12 months earlier, I think that would have been catastrophic.

“But throughout the last year, we built a foundation of trust, supporting each other, working together, so we could deal with that situation. I couldn’t be happier with the reaction I got.”

READ MORE – Esteban Ocon: Haas 2025 results have aligned with promises prior to F1 move

The post When Esteban Ocon feared Haas’ 2025 F1 season was going to be a ‘lost cause’ appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has described the team’s turbulent start to the 2025 Formula 1 season in Australia as a “bomb” that left him feeling “sick”.

The Australian Grand Prix exposed significant issues with the VF-25, with Haas qualifying nearly six-tenths off the pace in last place.

However, Komatsu praised his team’s relentless response, highlighting the rapid problem-solving and upgrades that have steadily improved performance on high-speed circuits since.

Haas had played its cards close to its chest in pre-season testing, sticking to high-fuel runs and avoiding qualifying simulations – a strategy that paid off in 2024.

But in Melbourne, the VF-25’s main weakness was exposed: heavy bottoming through the high-speed Turns 9 and 10, which robbed the car of downforce and forced slower cornering speeds.

The team reacted swiftly, introducing a revised floor for Suzuka and another upgrade at Imola to claw back lost performance.

Komatsu opened up on the journey the team has been on since the devastating start to the 2025 campaign.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of a season,” he told media including Motorsport Week. “Pre-season testing was pretty smooth.

“Then we had that bomb in Melbourne. That was seriously a shock. And then I just never forget that feeling.

“Honestly, literally, I felt sick. Because you’re not just last – you are last by like six tenths.

“Then you got [a] pretty big fundamental issue, right? But then I’m so proud of everyone in the team, how we reacted from the situation.

“Honestly, we didn’t sleep much in Melbourne. Then, understanding where the issues are, what can we do, because we cannot wait until, like, [the] next planned upgrade, because it’s a serious issue.

“And we cannot be completely at the mercy of the tracks we go to. We had Suzuka coming, which is a high-speed track, so we had to react. 

“And I’m so proud [of] how we reacted for Suzuka, and then made a step forward.

“Then the fact that we did an upgrade in Imola, which was definitely affected by what we had in Melbourne, was still a step forward.”

Haas builds momentum after resolving early setbacks

Following those updates, Haas turned its focus to more routine developments, confident the American outfit had resolved the core issues from Melbourne.

Komatsu highlighted how the team’s ongoing progress, particularly with the Silverstone upgrade, has given the team a car capable of consistently competing in the top 10.

“But then what we had in Silverstone, after Imola, we knew we [were] on top of that Melbourne issue, so then we could do a normal upgrade for Silverstone, which was pretty good, I would say,” he added.

“I think especially considering who we are, I think we proved again, like last year, I think our development was excellent. And then with the VF-25, now with the Silverstone upgrade, we’ve got a car we can fight in the top 10 with if we execute every single time.

“We have 35 points, it’s P9, but it’s eight points to a P6. It’s all very tight. So again, I think every weekend, we’ve got to take it one step at a time, just do the best job possible.

“I think I said this bit many, many races ago: if that had happened 12 months earlier, I think that would have been catastrophic.

“But at least throughout the last year, we built a foundation of trust, supporting each other, working together, so we could deal with that situation. I couldn’t be happier with the reaction I got.”

READ MORE – The ‘costly’ mistakes that saw Haas squander vital points in F1 Belgian GP

The post Haas F1 boss recalls ‘sick’ feeling after experiencing opening-race ‘bomb’ in Australia appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Esteban Ocon bemoaned two strategic blunders that cost Haas crucial points in the Constructors’ Championship in the Formula 1 Belgian Grand Prix.

Both Haas drivers started the 44-lap race at Spa-Francorchamps on the cusp of the top 10, having secured a vital double-points finish in the Sprint Race.

Ocon, who started 11th, revealed how a peculiar tyre choice, plus a botched strategy, handicapped him in the midfield battle as he dropped down to 15th.

While the majority of the grid pitted between Laps 11 and 12 to swap to slicks as a dry line had formed, Haas left Ocon on waning Intermediates until Lap 13.

“I think there are two very crucial decisions that we didn’t do in the right way,” Ocon told media including Motorsport Week.

“We need to review as a team because we had the pace today to score with both cars.

“Once we got going and everything was normal, the pace was there. So, it’s a big shame. The first one obviously, yes, was boxing two laps too late.”

The Frenchman then divulged how the team decided to service him with a used set of Medium tyres that further impeded his charge up the field in a delayed and interchangeable race.

“We need to review these last two races because I feel, you know, when it’s wet we don’t put things together,” conceded the 28-year-old.

“And then the other thing was boxing onto a used set of tyres while we had a new one in the truck ready for us. 

“So, I did basically my 35 laps on a used set of tyres while we had a new set of Medium ready for us in the race. So, yeah, that’s a big and costly mistake.”

Ocon’s team-mate, Oliver Bearman, who pitted a lap before the Frenchman, was employing a higher downforce set-up owing to the rain forecast.

But the FIA’s decision to delay the race for 80 minutes to allow for the weather to clear up and yet another strategic blunder cost the team points.

Haas currently sits ninth in the Constructors championship, only eight points away from Sauber in sixth.

“The team boxed him [Bearman] one lap too late and they boxed me two laps too late in that sense,” Ocon surmised.

“We should have both been on the earlier side basically. And if we would have done that, I think today would have been a different story. So, yeah.

“So, we will review everything, you know, if I need to give more information in the future.

“But they have a very clear process on who takes decisions and what into the team. And, you know, I believe that I did what I needed to do.”

The engine issue that blighted Bearman

Bearman was briefly running in the points, showcasing the outright pace of the VF-25.

That said, he concurred with his team-mate about the miscalculation the pit wall made in deciding the correct switchover point.

The likes of Pierre Gasly, Fernando Alonso and Nico Hulkenberg stopped on Lap 11 with Bearman called into the pits a lap later.

Eventually, Gasly rounded off the final points paying position in 10th as Bearman slotted in right behind him in 11th.

“Incredibly frustrating, I think the main frustration, you know, we did box a lot too late from the Intermediates to the Slicks and got undercut by a few guys, but it happens, you know, it’s one of those where it’s really difficult to judge,” he examined.

To add insult to injury, the Briton’s Ferrari power unit seemingly gave up on him midway into the race, and Bearman couldn’t make up the deficit afterwards.

“Honestly, from my side, I didn’t really give much feedback also on the track because I was nursing a problem with the engine,” he continued.

“I was struggling with my battery charge and everything. Then after the stops, I was an P10 just behind Hulkenberg and then coming out of the last corner, I had no power, the engine went to limbo and I lost three spots to Gasly, to Alonso, to Yuki as well.

“Then I spent the whole race just pissed off and trying to catch it back, but it’s impossible to overtake here.”

READ MORE – Why the decision to delay F1 Belgian GP ‘surprised’ Red Bull

The post The ‘costly’ mistakes that saw Haas squander vital points in F1 Belgian GP appeared first on Motorsport Week.