“There hasn’t been complete agreement in the past. That is why certain problems are still unresolved even after a five-year period within this organization.”
That’s how Esteban Ocon reflected on his experiences within the Alpine structure shortly before the 2024 Formula 1 summer hiatus, a break that occurred before his actual departure from the Enstone-based group.
Around that time, Ocon had just committed to Haas for the 2025 season; he was already promising to develop a “framework” for communication, intending to foster a productive operational dynamic – which was in contrast to Alpine, where the issues he mentioned seemed to intensify rather than get resolved, as he described it.
One year on, with 14 grand prix events completed in his inaugural Haas season, Ocon’s perspective is straightforward: he has successfully found the team that aligns with his ambitions.
“When contrasted with my prior engagements, I find this to be a positive environment,” the former Alpine competitor remarked to Autosport. “As I mentioned before, openness prevails. If errors occur, we confront them, discuss them, and try to prevent them from recurring. This is done immediately after the race.
“Such conversations are essential, because in scenarios where dialogue is lacking – something I have encountered previously – there is a higher likelihood of repeating mistakes. This emphasis on direct communication is critical.”
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team, with his race engineer Laura Mueller
Photo by: Peter Fox / Getty Images
“The team displays remarkable dedication. It might be surprising, but I have witnessed instances of apathy among individuals working within the Formula 1 circuit, which can be quite demoralizing.
“As a driver who invests significant effort and attention to detail before arriving at the track, it is challenging to encounter colleagues who seem primarily focused on their paychecks. Unfortunately, this has been my experience in the past.
“While perfection is unattainable, it is evident that substantial progress has been made since I joined, and we have a robust foundation upon which to build. I am content with our trajectory.”
Ocon’s initial impressions of Haas were highly favorable, particularly noting the team’s swift response in redesigning his steering wheel according to his specifications.
“The adjustment of the steering wheel to accommodate a dual-clutch system was remarkably quick, completed within a month,” Ocon shared enthusiastically. “I was taken aback by this efficiency, as I had not encountered such responsiveness in any other team, even the larger ones. Normally, such modifications require a significant amount of time.
“Despite being considered one of the smaller teams, some of these actions are truly exceptional.”
Haas also demonstrated resilience following a disappointing showing at the Australian Grand Prix, where both vehicles struggled with stability at high velocities. Ocon and his teammate, Oliver Bearman, finished at the bottom in both qualifying and the race in Melbourne. This performance was described as a “setback” by team leader Ayao Komatsu, especially after securing seventh place in the 2024 constructors’ championship.
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Although Haas is currently positioned ninth, they have accumulated an impressive total of 35 points – averaging 2.50 points for each grand prix, which is their second-highest rate across ten Formula 1 seasons.
“Engaging in discussions with Ayao about various aspects of the team left me deeply impressed by the manner in which they responded after that particular race,” noted Ocon. “There was a clear sense of unity and collective responsibility, with everyone working together to resolve the problems identified during the initial week in Australia.
“Our subsequent performance in China, where we completely reversed our fortunes, was not due to chance but reflects the team’s inherent atmosphere. There is no blame-shifting or individual targeting.”
Despite these improvements, Ocon believes there remains substantial development needed for Haas to compete at the forefront, and he is hopeful about the impact of the new technical regulations slated for the 2026 season.
“We need a quicker foundational structure,” he emphasized. “We are keen to see what advancements next year brings, and we aim to conclude this year positively. If we have the means to contend for higher positions, we will be ready to challenge the leading teams, without question. We simply require a dependable platform to work with on the track, and we will maximize it.”
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