Haas F1 team ‘learned more in Bahrain test than all of 2025’

Haas Method 1 driver Esteban Ocon says the American outfit “realized the quantity that we realized in the entire of final yr” through the Bahrain pre-season take a look at.

Final week’s Bahrain take a look at was the primary official operating of the brand new automotive laws, following the Barcelona shakedown on the finish of January.

Haas comes into the brand new guidelines period off the again of a disappointing 2025 marketing campaign, wherein it completed eighth within the constructors’ standings and simply shy of 60 factors off midfield chief Williams.

However the American crew has loved a optimistic winter thus far, finishing excessive mileage in testing and exhibiting promising tempo, with Ollie Bearman sixth general after three days of operating at Bahrain.

“Feeling good,” Esteban Ocon mentioned.

“We’re most likely the second crew with essentially the most laps all through the entire testing part.

“We’re actually sturdy on the reliability facet.

“We’ve managed to collect a variety of data, a variety of knowledge, and we made a step ahead by way of efficiency and understanding.”

Ocon praised Haas’ readiness this winter in getting the brand new automotive on monitor for the primary checks, whereas noting that it has realized extra during the last week in Bahrain than it did throughout the 2025 marketing campaign.

“I believe by way of how prepared we had been, we had been one of many first ones to place the automotive on monitor,” he added.

“Some groups weren’t prepared. We had been. And we introduced some updates fairly late into final yr.

“So, it was very spectacular from the crew’s facet to have the ability to be that prepared and to have the ability to have the miles early on within the automotive.

“On that facet of issues it’s good. In fact, we nonetheless want to know a variety of issues.

“There’s a variety of objects on the power administration and stuff we have to repair and get higher, and that we’re studying as we go.

“However general I believe, in three days, we’ve realized the quantity that we realized in the entire of final yr.”

Haas crew boss Ayao Komatsu revealed on Friday that Haas would have extra updates to carry for subsequent week’s Bahrain take a look at, with that package deal more likely to be raced in Australia.