Esteban Ocon reluctantly complied with Haas team orders at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, letting teammate Oliver Bearman pass, but was vocal about his displeasure. The American outfit called for the swap when Bearman, on fresher, softer tires, closed in on Ocon. While Ocon's race was already compromised by an early Nico Hulkenberg hit and a long stint on hard tires, he felt the call came too soon. Bearman was still 1.5 seconds behind, and Ocon claimed the instruction deviated from their pre-race plan. His engineer acknowledged the complaint, but insisted the move was necessary. Ocon lost valuable time, expressing his frustration post-race, stressing the need for the team to review their communication. This incident highlights the internal pressures at Haas as they navigate optimizing race results with two drivers vying for position, potentially setting an early tone for team dynamics into 2025.
Read the full story at RaceFans/Haas“THAT’S NOT WHAT WE DISCUSSED”: OCON’S COMPLAINT ABOUT HAAS’S TEAM ORDERS IN BAKU
Esteban Ocon reluctantly complied with Haas team orders at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, letting teammate Oliver Bearman pass, but was vocal about his displeasure. The American outfit called for the swap when Bearman, on fresher, softer tires, closed in on Ocon. While Ocon's race was already compromised by an early Nico Hulkenberg hit and a long stint on hard tires, he felt the call came too soon. Bearman was still **1.5 seconds** behind, and Ocon claimed the instruction deviated from their pre-race plan. His engineer acknowledged the complaint, but insisted the move was necessary. Ocon lost valuable time, expressing his frustration post-race, stressing the need for the team to review their communication. This incident highlights the internal pressures at Haas as they navigate optimizing race results with two drivers vying for position, potentially setting an early tone for team dynamics into 2025.
