Haas will field Oliver Bearman exclusively with the updated Ferrari power unit at Monza.
Why Bearman Was Chosen
Team principal Ayao Komatsu said the decision hinged on current performance gaps that Benetton’s setups exposed on Monza’s long straights. “We gave Ocon upgrades on braking and steering earlier because he struggled more in those areas,” he explained. “Now we’re giving that advantage back to Ollie, because his power output matters for this high‑speed circuit.”
Upgrade Allocation Across the Season
During the past two races, Haas handed the brake‑system upgrade to Esteban Ocon first, citing his braking lock‑in issues. When a power‑steering patch was released in Budapest, it was also inspected and prioritized for Ocon, who voiced the greatest need. Quick turnaround between upgrade types has become a routine part of the team’s strategy to extract marginal gains.
Ferrari’s Regulated Supply Limits
Because Ferrari is bound by the ADUO ruling to supply one upgraded engine per American-based customer, Haas can only deploy the improvement on a single car. Komatsu noted the frustration: “If we had two units it would be simpler, but Ferrari gives us the minimum quantity to satisfy the regulation.” The Italian Grand Prix is described as “a very power‑sensitive circuit,” so the engine upgrade is deemed the most consequential for the team’s prospects.
Team Transparency and Fairness
Komatsu highlighted the team’s commitment to an open policy. “We told Esteban the reasoning straight: the decision was based on performance metrics and not on championship points,” he clarified. “There’s no hidden agenda; we apply the same criteria to each driver.” He acknowledged that Ocon may feel disappointed, but framed it as “the best for the team and the fairest way to handle limited resources.”
Implications for the Monza Sprint
With Bearman now running the updated power unit, Haas anticipates an uptick in straight‑line speed. However, Komatsu cautioned that the team must still integrate the upgrade smoothly, as previous attempts to fit multiple engines at once encountered mechanical complications. The decision reflects a balancing act between regulatory constraints, on‑track performance, and driver expectations.
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