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Komatsu Reveals Exciting Haas Driver Plans for 2027 Season
Highlights
- Haas not rushing 2027 driver decisions; focusing on current duo.
- Ollie Bearman scored 18 points; Esteban Ocon only 3 points.
- Haas struggled six races without points amid regulation challenges.
- Bearman and Ocon retired from recent Dutch Grand Prix race.
- Team working on downforce and drivability improvements collaboratively.
- Komatsu praised team effort amid tough competition and budget limits.
Ayao Komatsu says Haas will not rush 2027 driver decisions, prioritising performance from current drivers Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon after a difficult mid-season run.
The 2026 campaign starts positively, highlighted by Bearman’s fifth in China, but development pace fades versus midfield rivals. More context appears in Haas’ 2026 season coverage.
A six-race scoreless run intensifies scrutiny on the line-up and raises questions about retention for 2027.
Bearman currently looks the safer bet to stay. Prospects such as Rafael Camara and Yuki Tsunoda are understood to be monitoring opportunities.
Before Zandvoort, Komatsu reiterates Haas’ driver focus amid limited resources.
“We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them.”
He notes Bearman’s pace is consistently strong, while Ocon’s performance improves when car balance suits his preferences.
The Dutch Grand Prix then delivers a double DNF, compounding the slide and halting momentum. That outcome is detailed in Haas’ Dutch weekend report.
Across the year, Bearman scores 18 points to Ocon’s 3. Bearman argues inconsistent parts have masked the car’s true potential.
Bearman leads Haas’ points 18–3 over Ocon despite recent DNFs and a six-race drought.
Komatsu concedes the 2026 rules reset stretches Haas more than larger rivals, citing the scale of change and upgrade intensity at Racing Bulls and Alpine.
Komatsu calls 2026 “the biggest regulation change ever,” exposing smaller-team limitations against faster-developing rivals.
He praises collective effort and rejects a blame culture, prioritising problem-solving on downforce and drivability deficits.
Set-up work targets driver confidence and predictability, with Ocon particularly sensitive to car feel.
Budget constraints limit upgrade cadence, meaning execution must be near-perfect to match the midfield’s development rate.
Haas expects improvements to land incrementally and believes recovery is achievable, as shown by gains over the previous two seasons.
Timing for 2027 decisions remains open, with choices likely shaped by form and market movement. See the evolving 2027 driver line-ups picture.
Visual Summary
18
Bearman
Bearman
3
Ocon
Ocon
HAAS
Balancing Drivers, Chasing Progress
Balancing Drivers, Chasing Progress
6 Races: 0 Points
Double DNF in Netherlands
2026: Major Rule Shakeup
Double DNF in Netherlands
2026: Major Rule Shakeup
Will Bearman & Ocon get another shot?
Haas have hit a performance wall after a promising start. Bearman leads the team with 18 points (6x more than Ocon). But with Formula 1 seats scarce, pressure is mounting: Camara & Tsunoda are circling for chances. Ayao Komatsu is keeping cool: “Performance first, decisions later.”
Haas have hit a performance wall after a promising start. Bearman leads the team with 18 points (6x more than Ocon). But with Formula 1 seats scarce, pressure is mounting: Camara & Tsunoda are circling for chances. Ayao Komatsu is keeping cool: “Performance first, decisions later.”
Next Corner:
Line-Up Decisions
Line-Up Decisions
Haas stays patient – but the F1 driver market moves fast.
James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.
