Esteban Ocon has denied that Haas will have a bigger rivalry with Cadillac than other teams on the Formula 1 grid once its American counterpart’s debut in 2026.
The Kannapolis-based squad has been F1’s only American team on the grid since its inception in 2016.
And while Haas has been the perennial underdog of the paddock, it is set to receive some direct competition from across the pond with Cadillac’s arrival next season.
The General Motors-backed project’s arrival as the 11th team on the grid coincides with the 2026 regulations overhaul.
Naturally, it can be assumed that, given the teams’ American heritage, there would be an inherent rivalry brewing.
But Ocon has firmly shut down does suggestions, reiterating instead that Haas will look at Cadillac just like it does any other team on the grid.
“Not more than anyone around us,” he told media including Motorsport Week when asked if there would be a friendly rivalry between Haas and Cadillac next year.
“I think everyone around us, from right side of the motorhome to left side, they are all rivals to us.”
Ocon delivers verdict on Cadillac’s F1 chances
Cadillac will begin its tenure in the sport as a Ferrari customer team with the expectations of transforming into a works outfit from the 2028 season onwards.
Haas knows all too well that the learning curve in a sport like F1 is very steep for newcomers.
Ocon himself alluded to this when he conceded that it was going to be a difficult start for Cadillac despite having signed up two experienced drivers with Grand Prix wins under their belts, like Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez.
That said, as far as the team’s technical setup is concerned, Cadillac has signed the likes of Pat Symonds, Nick Chester, and Rob White – all of whom Ocon knows very well from his time at Enstone with Alpine.
“Yeah, I know a lot of people from Enstone that I’ve worked with. Designers, engineers and all the rest. And mechanics as well actually,” he added.
“So I think everybody who’s there is very experienced. I think it’s just about working together with new people around and at new places. It is a new team but it’s not really a new team, if you know what I mean.
“Because most of the people there have F1 experience. So I think it’s definitely a team that we need to look out for in the future.”
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