Haas looks to be entering the new F1 era with renewed confidence. After a mixed 2025, in which the American squad finished eighth in the constructors’ standings and trailed midfield rivals such as Williams and Racing Bulls, the winter tests appeared far more encouraging. According to Esteban Ocon, the team learned more in three days in Bahrain than over the entire past season. Could Haas spring a surprise in 2026?
The recent test week in Bahrain was the first public measuring stick under the new regulations. During the earlier shakedown in Barcelona, Haas already turned heads. The VF-26 showed up notably reliable compared with the rivals. At the Bahrain International Circuit the team also logged heavy mileage, and the pace didn’t look out of place. Afterwards Esteban Ocon was upbeat. “It feels good,” he told media at the circuit. “We’re probably the second team with the most laps during the whole test phase. We’re very strong on reliability.”
Large dataset
According to the Frenchman, it isn’t just about the laps but the volume of data the team has gathered. “We have gathered a lot of information and data and made progress on performance and understanding,” he summed up. That suggests Haas has laid a solid foundation for a competitive season. Ocon singled out the build-up to the winter test. “I think we were one of the first to get the car on track,” he continued, sounding proud. “Some teams weren’t ready, but we were. And considering we only introduced upgrades fairly late last year, it’s all the more impressive that we can already put in so many kilometres.”
Still, the 27-year-old driver realises there’s work to do, especially on energy management under the new rules. “On that front we’re in a good position,” he concluded, “but of course there’s a lot to learn. There are many aspects of energy management we need to improve, and we’re discovering them as we go. But overall I think we’ve learned in three days as much as we did over the whole last year.”
