Esteban Ocon kicks off his Haas journey while Ollie Bearman makes his F1 debut. Haas eyes a strong start in Melbourne’s high-stakes opener.
Haas F1 is ready for the season opener in Melbourne, a place full of good memories for the American team. For Esteban Ocon, it’s the start of a new adventure, while Ollie Bearman prepares for his first-ever Formula 1 race.
Ocon: A Fresh Start with Haas
Ocon is eager to hit the track with Haas, especially at Albert Park, a circuit he has always loved.
“It’s great to have Australia back as the first race. When I was younger, it was always the season opener, so starting my journey with Haas here makes it even more special,” he says.
He knows the Melbourne crowd will be there to support him:
“Melbourne Walk is always an incredible experience. Seeing the fans’ enthusiasm and how the whole city turns into an F1 hub is something special. The circuit itself has changed over the years—faster, smoother—but it’s still an amazing challenge.”
With new cars and new challenges ahead, Ocon is focused on performance:
“It’s tricky to set up the car right here. The corners are fast, the grip is low, and we’re still adjusting to the time zone. But I can’t wait to see how the VF-25 handles on track—it’s exciting.”
Bearman’s Big Moment
For Ollie Bearman, this race marks the start of his F1 career. The young Briton is ready to step up:
“The off-season felt so long, so finally getting here and starting the season is amazing. I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.”
Melbourne holds special memories for him, too:
“The track is incredible, winding around the lake with the city in the background. I experienced Melbourne Walk last year in F2, and the support was fantastic. I can only imagine what it’ll be like in F1.”
Haas Looking to Repeat Melbourne Success
Haas has good reason to be optimistic—Melbourne was the site of their impressive F1 debut in 2016. Team principal Ayao Komatsu remembers it well:
“It’s always great to return to Melbourne. We’ve had both good and bad memories here, but securing sixth place in our very first race was unforgettable. It’s a tough circuit—low grip, tight overtaking—but we’re ready for the challenge.”
After pre-season testing, Komatsu is confident:
“We saw plenty of positives during testing. If we maximize everything—car, driver, strategy—we can fight.”
Ocon: “I Adapted Much More Easily Than Expected”
Ocon’s transition to Haas has been smoother than he expected, especially after five years at Alpine.
“I was used to working in a certain way, so I thought adapting would take time. But honestly, it has been much easier than I expected, particularly with tire management.”
He’s also getting used to a new race engineer, Laura Müller, and their collaboration is off to a great start:
“Everything has been smooth. The team has been well-prepared, and we’ve had open discussions with Laura, Francesco Nenci, and everyone. Of course, race weekends are always different, and mistakes happen—including from me—but we’re learning fast.”
Adjusting to the Ferrari Engine: “It Was a Shock”
Switching from Renault to Ferrari power has been a major change for Ocon:
“I won’t go into details, but there are a lot of positives with the Ferrari engine. At first, it was a completely different way of using the systems—it was a shock—but now, everything feels much more natural.”
Ocon is ready for his first real test with Haas:
“The car feels good, the team is in sync, and we’re prepared. Now, we just have to put everything together and see what we can do on track.”
Haas Ready to Take On Melbourne
With Ocon settling in quickly and Bearman making his F1 debut, Haas is heading into the Australian Grand Prix with confidence. If all goes to plan, the American team could be in for another strong start Down Under.
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