Oliver Bearman has addressed how a late-season upgrade package propelled Haas to the team’s second-highest-ever points total during a Formula 1 season in 2025.
Haas was engaged in an ultra-tight battle in the Constructors’ Championship when the side unleashed several new parts on home soil at the United States Grand Prix.
The Kannapolis-based squad’s changes – which included a revised floor – came at a time when rivals had switched all their resources to the new rules coming in 2026.
But although the added boost wasn’t enough to see the team retain the seventh place that it sealed last season, Haas still accrued 21 more points than it had in 2021.
Bearman, in particular, gelled with the upgraded VF-25, scoring points in all bar one race over the last six rounds, including a sensational run to fourth place in Mexico.
Asked to describe what the upgrades delivered, the Briton answered to media including Motorsport Week: “It’s given us the feeling that we’ve been chasing all year.
“Basically, it makes the car a bit more on edge on occasion, with specific wind conditions and traffic, for example, it can be a bit more challenging with this upgrade, but I think that’s always the trade-off that you’re playing with, especially this late into a cycle of regs.
“I think it’s given us a few tenths – probably not even a few – even a tenth, tenth and a half. But with the way that F1 is at the moment, that’s enough to put you up the order.”
Bearman backs Haas’ decision to push through upgrades
With both the chassis and engine regulations changing next season, Bearman has accepted that Haas’ choice to keep developing the 2025 car represented a gamble.
With Haas continuing to operate as the smallest team on the whole grid, however, the Ferrari-backed driver reckons it was the right decision under the circumstances.
“Of course, it was a risk taking that upgrade this late into the season with the new regs next year,” he recognised.
“But I think based on our position – and every Constructors’ position is incredibly valuable to a team like Haas – I think we’ve made the right call.”
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