Esteban Ocon: ‘Haas might be evaluating new drivers, yet the issue isn’t the drivers themselves’

Esteban Ocon asserts that “drivers are not the issue” for the struggling Haas Formula 1 outfit, as his position in the championship appears to be in jeopardy.

The VF-26 from Haas has faced inconsistency in the performance of its components, and the recent aerodynamic upgrades introduced in Monza have not remedied these issues, although Ocon referred to them as “positive”.

This season, Ocon has noticeably lagged behind his teammate Oliver Bearman, having been outqualified 12-6 and outscored 18-3, with the latter largely attributed to the Briton’s standout performances in the initial two grands prix.

Since the April break, however, Ocon has actually outscored Bearman 2-1, as Haas has gradually slipped in the competitive hierarchy. Yet, across the entire season, the young driver has finished just one race behind the veteran—specifically in Hungary.

Interestingly, that was a race where the inconsistency issue affected Bearman while Ocon remained unaffected, although the Frenchman believes it has troubled him in 10 out of 13 rounds this year. 

“This is something we have encountered throughout this season,” Ocon stated. “Myself, Ayao [Komatsu, team principal], and Ollie are very conscious of that. When we manage to get the cars into a state where they can perform, we as drivers can deliver, as a part of the garage.”

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

“Last week, Ollie had a car that was delivering as we anticipated. On my side, it wasn’t performing similarly, but that scenario was quite different in Budapest, where he encountered those difficulties.

“We recognize these challenges. Our main focus right now is to eliminate these issues at the start of the weekend, aiming to work smoothly with the car. It becomes challenging once you find yourself chasing a deficit regarding performance. That’s the predicament we currently face.

“However, this does not undermine the solid work the team has accomplished in recent races. We’ve had three consecutive Q2 appearances. While it’s not Q3, I feel I’ve maximized what the car is capable of, leaving nothing behind.

“It’s not the outcome we desire. We certainly need more performance to contend for points. Still, there is satisfaction in acknowledging that we extracted everything from the car’s potential; now we need to focus on specific areas for improvement. And that’s what we are pursuing. I believe we have been doing quite well on our side lately. So we must continue.”

Ocon’s future has reportedly been in uncertainty for several months, and Haas evaluated potential replacements in a former F1 car at Portimao two weeks ago—specifically the team’s reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli, and Ferrari junior Rafael Camara. Fornaroli is the current Formula 2 champion, while Camara is competing for this year’s title.

Ocon downplayed the significance of the test and firmly stated that the ongoing issues are not due to him and Bearman.

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

“Yes, the team has the option to test all drivers if they choose. We have a TPC program that is quite significant for us. It also serves as a form of income for us.

“However, it’s evident that within the team, the drivers are not the issue. We are all collaborating towards the same goal to extract more from the car. And when Ollie and I have a competitive car, we perform.

“Right now, my sole focus is to maximize our capabilities, resolve the car’s issues, acclimate to this new track, and hopefully achieve favorable results.”

Haas is enduring a seven-race streak without points, matching its joint-worst record since the 2021 season— a campaign that was a total loss for the team.