Haas F1 focused on long runs and data gathering in Sakhir, covering 160 laps but finishing with the two slowest times of the day.
Haas F1 did not show strong pace today during the first day of testing in Sakhir.
Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman recorded the two slowest times but were the most active on track, completing a combined 160 laps. The program was clearly focused on understanding the VF-25 and long runs.
“It was a good day. We completed our entire program, did what we needed to do, and found some of the answers we were looking for. Both drivers had a very productive day, covering a lot of laps. We’ve had many changes in the race team personnel, but I felt the communication and teamwork within the team were very strong. So, a positive start to our pre-season testing,” assured team principal Ayao Komatsu.
Esteban Ocon, who drove in the afternoon, felt he had “a very solid day, and for both me and Ollie, we learned a lot today as it was our first time experiencing the car in proper conditions. It was a good day because we completed the run plan. We focused on long-run performance.”
Ollie Bearman expressed his satisfaction, saying he was “very happy to be back with the team and back in the car. It’s my first time on track in Bahrain, and it’s a new Formula 1 car, so it’s been great. We went through the full run plan as we wanted, and the results were as expected as we learned about the car and its characteristics. I’m now looking forward to pushing the limits over the next two days.”
The Briton shared his thoughts on finally securing a full-time F1 seat.
“It’s a great feeling knowing I’ll be here all year, with my own car and my own garage. It’s exciting, and now that it’s starting, it feels a bit more real.”
“The winter felt too long. I think by the end of the season, I’ll be craving a long winter break, but before my first season, these three months felt like the longest ever. But I’m happy to be here and to get going.”
He admits that single-lap performance was not the objective at all.
“I drove slowly, enjoyed the view—it’s good to be in Bahrain! No, we focused mainly on race pace. We did a lot of laps and completed the plan we wanted. We were able to compare the car with last year’s and build a catalog of what it likes and doesn’t like.”
“There’s wind and gusts, which makes it difficult and not the most enjoyable for us, but it exposes the car’s weaknesses because it’s very unpredictable.”
On the physical preparation side, no issues either.
“Physical training was the priority—lots of cardio to get ready. My schedule is starting to fill up. Once we start, we’re flat out until the end of the year, and that’s why I think I’ll enjoy the end of the season! You have to be organized—it’s not my strongest trait, but I’m working on it.”
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Haas Prioritises Mileage Over Speed in Sakhir Test Opener Haas Prioritises Mileage Over Speed in Sakhir Test Opener
