Haas Fails Again at Imola Grand Prix: Pit Stop Error and Ocon’s Retirement Leave Team Empty-Handed
The Imola Grand Prix proved to be a disastrous event for the Haas team, with missed opportunities and technical issues plaguing their performance on the track. Despite the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) providing a strategic opening for drivers, the team failed to capitalize, leaving fans and analysts disappointed.
British driver Oliver Bearman, starting from the back of the grid due to a Q2 elimination, had a chance to make significant progress during the race. However, a pit stop error dashed his hopes of a strong finish. Bearman expressed his frustration, stating, “Honestly, it wasn’t a bad race, but unfortunately, I had a pit stop problem. We were in a great position for a one-stop race, so when the VSC came out, we switched to the medium tire and I was coming out behind Russell in P7, so we expected a good race, but my wheel was not fixed correctly during the pit stop.”
Furthermore, Esteban Ocon’s race came to an abrupt end due to technical issues, adding to Haas’ woes. Ocon explained, “We had an air consumption issue, so I had to stop the car at the exit of turn 7. It will be investigated, but it wouldn’t have been a great race anyway, so we have a lot to review this weekend and hopefully come back stronger in Monaco.”
The race saw both Ocon and Italian driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli retiring, with their cars parked in close proximity on the track. Despite the setbacks, Haas remains hopeful of addressing their challenges and bouncing back in future races.
The Imola Grand Prix painted a grim picture for Haas, highlighting the team’s struggles and the need for improvements to stay competitive in the fierce world of Formula 1.