Esteban Ocon, a new face at Haas for 2026, is already airing frustrations, claiming he and teammate Oliver Bearman "don't seem to have the same cars." Despite a stellar start to the season-opener, rocketing five places to P8 on lap one, Ocon's pace evaporated, leaving him P11 and out of the points. He cited "instability" in his car, comparing it to last year's struggles, wishing he had the "understeering car" Bearman enjoyed.
Meanwhile, American team Haas celebrated Bearman's P7 finish, leading the midfield and earning "best of the rest" honors. Bearman, who finished six places behind Ocon on lap one, was thrilled with the strong start under the new regulations, validating the team's hard work. This early divergence in performance, with one driver lamenting car balance and the other celebrating a breakthrough, puts Haas in a fascinating spot. The American outfit will need to address Ocon's concerns quickly if they want consistent two-car points finishes this season.
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