"We anticipated much more from Esteban Ocon," stated Ayao Komatsu, the principal of Haas.
In the 2025 Formula 1 season, Komatsu acknowledged that he expected greater performance from Ocon, who joined Haas last year after departing from his long-time team, Alpine. Partnering with rookie Oliver Bearman, Ocon faced surprising challenges and ultimately ended the season with 38 points, narrowly trailing Bearman’s 41.
Not only did Bearman surpass Ocon in overall points, but he also outqualified him by a significant margin of 17 to 11, excluding any technical difficulties. These figures weren’t just mere coincidences; as the season unfolded, Ocon found himself increasingly outperformed by the rising star from Britain.
Ocon expressed growing frustration with the car's handling, particularly when braking, while Komatsu suggested that the root of the issue might stem from Ocon’s driving style since Bearman didn’t seem to encounter similar problems.
Overall, Ocon’s first season with Haas fell short of expectations, and his team principal was candid about this reality. "If we look strictly at the sporting results, it's clear that nobody is satisfied with how Esteban performed last year. He was competing against a rookie, albeit an impressive one, but he has ten years of F1 experience, including race wins and podium finishes. Therefore, we anticipated better results from him," Komatsu explained.
However, it's important to note that the situation isn’t entirely Ocon’s fault; Komatsu believes it’s a shared responsibility. "Sometimes it's on the team for not providing him with a car that suits him, particularly in qualifying sessions. Some tracks amplified these issues more than others. For instance, in Baku, he was visibly unhappy with the braking performance, which significantly affected his qualifying speed. While Baku was one of Ollie's stronger tracks, we didn't foresee Esteban’s poor performance being so pronounced.
"There are no singular reasons behind this; it’s not solely about the driver or just the team. Each case is unique, and there isn't a common factor or a 'magic bullet' to fix everything. It’s a process that requires collaboration to identify problems quickly and implement solutions for upcoming races. I feel that last year, as a team and as a driver, we didn’t manage this aspect well enough. I truly believe we should have addressed these issues faster."
Komatsu recalled the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi, where Ocon struggled significantly during practice, even stating to Canal+ that he felt like a rookie who had never driven an F1 car. "There’s a lot of instability. I feel like I can’t drive at all and can’t string together a lap anymore. It’s been quite unmanageable for several races. We can’t resolve the problems, and they don’t align with my driving style, so we’re simply not competitive. We’re far from where we should be."
Despite these hardships, Ocon managed to outqualify Bearman to reach Q3 and secured a commendable seventh place in the race after starting eighth.
"Take a look at Abu Dhabi on Friday; he was significantly off pace, about four tenths slower than Ollie. Yet on Saturday, he suddenly matched the pace," Komatsu noted.
"Again, there isn't a singular large issue; instead, there are several smaller factors that can create a snowball effect. We need to confront these issues more swiftly because Esteban's potential is evident. If you review his performance in Abu Dhabi, particularly his turnaround from a poor Friday to a strong Saturday and Sunday, it's clear he possesses remarkable talent and capability. We must ensure we harness that effectively, especially because we need both drivers to perform this year. Last year, both were essential, but this year, we require even more from them."
Additionally, Ocon has shared his thoughts on the anticipated pecking order for the upcoming 2026 season after the Barcelona tests, offering insights that many fans are eager to hear.
What do you think of Ocon’s performance and the pressures he faces? Do you agree with Komatsu's assessments, or do you see other factors at play? Share your thoughts in the comments!
