Haas F1 team admits its VF‑26 car’s inconsistency eclipses Esteban Ocon’s performance evaluation, placing the Frenchman deep in doubt amid rumours of a 2027 driver switch.
Ocon’s 2025 season exposed a widening gap to rookie teammate Oliver Bearman; the Japanese team chief Ayao Komatsu highlighted that both cars “lack a reliable baseline.” Ocon has incurred the steepest penalty: three lap‑time deficits across 11 races, only three points against Bearman’s 18.
During practice sessions, Ocon claims the vehicle behaves unpredictably. “I’m happy on Friday, but then Saturday I lose stability,” he explained, after FP3 data showed an abrupt dip. Komatsu reflected that safety‑car deployments in Shanghai and a yellow‑flag interruption at Silverstone skewed results and left the team “numb to cause and cure.”
Team’s Lens on Driver Dynamics
Bearman echoed the frustration, stating, “it’s not always a fair fight” due to the variability in chassis balance. He noted the squad has “been chasing a moving target,” with overnight design tweaks affecting competitiveness. The British driver described the environment as “fighting with our hands almost tied behind our backs,” yet maintains he is improving year‑over‑year.
Komatsu has answered the media’s speculation about replacing Ocon with Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli or Ferrari junior Rafael Cármara. “I’m just saying the truth,” he said, refusing to “over‑defend” or “attack too heavily.” The engineer admitted that understanding the car’s pattern is essential to making a fair decision.
2027 Outlook
Haas now weighs the strategic options. Fornaroli, who races for McLaren’s reserve lineup, and Cármara, a 2026 F2 title contender, both stand out as potential upgrades. Komatsu revealed he prefers clarity on the car’s behavior before finalising the driver rota.
As the 2024 season concludes, Haas must confront the reality that its GP‑class machine cannot differentiate between teammates and the nature of the season’s points haul. The team’s internal data point to safety‑car instability and inconsistent handling when a car is “happy,” obscuring a true assessment of driver skill.
The VF‑26’s volatility will dictate Haas’ choice for 2027, forcing an urgent analysis of whether the driver switching or a technical overhaul is the decisive lever for future competitiveness.
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