The 2025 Formula 1 driver line-up at Haas pits experience versus youth with Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.
Haas levelled up in 2024 as it entered a new era under Team Principal Ayao Komatsu.
A technical alliance was formed with auto giants Toyota and on-track the team successfully brought performance upgrades to the VF-24 throughout the course of the campaign.
That saw them take the fight for sixth in the Constructors’ standings all the way to the season finale at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, coming up just short of Alpine by seven points (65 to 58).
The 65 points scored by Haas last year was a dramatic improvement compared to the return of 12 in 2023, which saw the team rooted to the bottom of the standings.
With Toyota bolstering its technical capabilities, Haas has the tools at its disposal to push on in 2025 and it is doing so with an exciting driver line-up.
The capably quick F1 veterans Kevin Magnussen and Nico Hulkenberg have departed Haas for pastures new, so what can the team expect from GP winner Ocon and exciting rookie Bearman in 2025.
Oliver Bearman
Against the odds, Bearman made three Grand Prix starts in 2024.
His sparkling F1 debut at Jeddah with Ferrari was backed up by a point with Haas in Baku.
A difficult day in the Brazil rain at Interlagos in November showed there’s work to do but Haas has a promising British teenager on its hands.
All Bearman has to do in 2025 is keep up the good work.
His promise is clear for all to see and its no wonder Haas moved early to sign him to a multi-year deal, announcing his contract last July.
Upon signing with Haas, Bearman said: “To be one of the very few people who get to do the thing what they dreamed of as a child is something truly incredible.
“To Gene [Haas], Ayao and everyone at Haas, thank you for believing in me and for trusting me to represent your team.”
Esteban Ocon
Ocon was all smiles at Yas Marina during the 2024 post-season test as his life with Haas began.
The end of his Alpine tenure was fraught with challenges but second place at Interlagos showed the Frenchman is still a talented F1 wheelman.
With an exciting rookie team-mate alongside him, Ocon must show Bearman who is boss in 2025.
But more important is the fact that as the first-ever GP winner to represent Haas on the F1 circuit, Ocon must lead the team forward.
Upon confirming the move last July, Ocon said: “I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter in my Formula 1 career and join MoneyGram Haas F1 Team from the start of the 2025 season.
“I’ll be joining a very ambitious racing team, whose spirit, work ethic, and undeniable upward trajectory has really impressed me.”
It would appear the feeling is mutual as Komatsu, who was Ocon’s race engineer during the Frenchman’s maiden run in a F1 car with Lotus in 2014, said: “It was vital we had a driver with experience in beside Bearman next year, but Esteban’s still young with a lot to prove as well.
“I think we have a hungry, dynamic driver pairing and I look forward to welcoming Esteban into MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for 2025.”
READ MORE – Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon confirmed for inaugural Haas TPC run
Discussion about this post