Haas F1 Team Sets High Hopes for Esteban Ocon as New Season Approaches
In a bold declaration that has racing fans buzzing, Ayao Komatsu, the team principal of Haas F1, has publicly stated that the team is expecting much more from Esteban Ocon in the upcoming 2026 season. After a challenging debut year with Haas, where the French driver struggled to find his footing, Komatsu believes that Ocon is poised for a significant turnaround. The director acknowledged the lackluster performance in 2025 but emphasized the promising evolution displayed during the pre-season tests held in Barcelona.
Reflecting on a season filled with ups and downs, Komatsu admitted that Ocon’s first year with the team didn’t meet expectations. The former Alpine driver finished the season trailing rookie Ollie Bearman in the Drivers’ Championship, raising eyebrows and questions about his adaptation to the new environment. While Ocon and Bearman delivered comparable race performances, Bearman outshined him in qualifying, securing a 14-10 advantage. Komatsu highlighted the shared responsibility for this underwhelming outcome, stating, “There were times when we couldn’t provide Ocon with a well-balanced car, and at other times, he struggled to adapt. We lacked speed on circuits like Baku, but he showed resilience in Abu Dhabi, fighting back from a poor start to clinch an impressive seventh place.”
As the new season dawns, the atmosphere within the Haas camp is charged with renewed optimism. Komatsu praised Ocon’s progress during the recent shakedown in Barcelona, noting the effective collaboration between him and Bearman. “The feedback from both drivers was strikingly similar, which is crucial given the new regulations. Ocon now has a better understanding of our team’s dynamics and is ready to contribute significantly,” Komatsu asserted, painting a picture of a driver on the brink of transformation.
With the official pre-season tests set to kick off in Bahrain, the Haas team is gearing up for what they hope will be a season of redemption. The stakes are high, and the expectations for both Ocon and Bearman are soaring. Will Esteban Ocon rise to the occasion and prove his worth in the cutthroat world of Formula 1? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure: the spotlight is firmly on him as the engines roar back to life.
