Young Brit Bearman brings valuable insight to Haas, while Ocon looks to tame the walls in Saudi Arabia’s fierce heat.
Haas F1 heads to Saudi Arabia with quiet confidence. After four rounds, the American outfit sits an impressive fifth in the Constructors’ Championship, a solid start for a team many had written off. Esteban Ocon currently holds ninth in the Drivers’ standings and is particularly excited for the high-speed challenge of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
“Jeddah is one of the most thrilling tracks on the calendar,” Ocon said. “It’s fast, high-grip, and really rewards precision. You have to get close to the walls if you want to find lap time—it’s a real driver’s circuit.”
He’s also expecting the heat to be a major factor this time around. “It’s going to be close to 40 degrees this weekend. We’re arriving later in the year than usual, so it’ll be physically intense. But I’m looking forward to it.”
For Ollie Bearman, Jeddah holds a special meaning. It was the scene of his unexpected Formula 1 debut last season, when he stepped in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari. Now a Haas driver, he returns with more experience—and a full weekend ahead of him.
“I’m really excited to be back,” Bearman said. “This is the first time I’m racing at a track I’ve already driven in F1. Last year was such a big moment for me—debuting with Ferrari in Jeddah is something I’ll never forget.”
“Even before that, I loved this track for its speed and the rush of racing so close to the walls. This time, I get to go through every session properly—practice, qualifying, the full race weekend. I think it’ll be fun.”
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is keeping expectations measured but optimistic. Jeddah presents a unique challenge: a street circuit with the speed and rhythm of a traditional track, but zero margin for error.
“We’ll be running a lower-downforce setup compared to previous races,” Komatsu explained. “That brings its own challenges—keeping the car stable and getting the tyres into the right window will be critical.”
It’s also the first track this year where Bearman has prior race experience. “That should help us as a team,” Komatsu added. “The VF-25 has been consistent lately, and we want to carry that momentum into the final leg of this first triple-header. It’s tough on everyone, but finishing strong here would be a big boost.”
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Bearman returns as Haas chase pace on Jeddah streets Bearman returns as Haas chase pace on Jeddah streets
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