Oliver Bearman secured a seventh‑place finish in Melbourne, propelling Haas to fourth in the constructors’ championship ahead of Red Bull despite the new season’s turbulent start.
Bearman’s early promise stalls after the April break
Haas entered the season strong, boasting Bearman’s respectable results of seventh in Melbourne and fifth in China to bucket up four points in the first two Grands Prix. The team initially appeared close to the front‑running Q3 boats, yet since the April hiatus it has managed only three points – trailing even the struggling Cadillac and Aston Martin outfits.
Upgrade pace falls behind front‑line rivals
Bearman explained that the rapid development cycle now common among the top teams has outpaced Haas’s own progress. “The regulation changes became mature last year, so we didn’t add much performance, just timely upgrades, but now teams are overhauling their cars almost weekly.” He added, “We’re simply unable to keep up, and the parts we bought haven’t really delivered the expected performance.”
Komatsu highlights the car’s intrinsic handling issues
Team principal Ayao Komatsu countered that while the car received upgrades – such as a new front wing in Montreal – its core handling characteristics remain problematic on certain circuits. “The additional downforce is present, but whether it’s usable depends on the track,” he said, citing the contrast between the success in Melbourne and Shanghai versus the struggles seen in Miami and thereafter. Komatsu noted that the April break’s five‑week interruption also delayed the team’s understanding of the car’s dynamics.
Racing Bulls surge to midfield dominance
In contrast, Racing Bulls surged to the top of the midfield after introducing a new floor in Canada. Their package upgrade translated into 45 points over the last five Grands Prix, with at least one car consistently reaching Q3, including a double‑Q3 finish at Austria and Britain.
Future plans hinge on a substantial post‑summer package
Bearman remains optimistic that a comprehensive upgrade after the summer break will restore competitiveness. “We have a new front wing now, which is a step forward, but we must fully exploit what we have before adding more.” He pointed out that understanding the car’s limitations early in the season is crucial to prevent wasted time on new packages.
With the midfield reshaped by Racing Bulls and Haas grappling with development lag, the next races will test whether the team can convert incremental upgrades into race‑worthy performance before the season’s pivotal summer cadence.”
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