Haas opted against retaining a man with a whole lot of Formula 1 experience in their operation for 2025 as the team heads in a new direction.
Kevin Magnussen was snubbed in favour of Oliver Bearman as the American outfit brings a little more youth to the track for the first time since 2021.
Esteban Ocon shared a remarkable verdict on his first Haas test and believes that it was the best test he has ever had in Formula 1.
Ocon is a race-winner, which is something that Haas has never had within their ranks but should help bring some extra knowledge to the table.
They finished seventh in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship and showed signs of improvement, but they could be in contention for fifth this season with Aston Martin and Alpine in close quarters.
Kevin Magnussen will test old Haas F1 cars to provide a reference
Team boss Ayao Komatsu couldn’t believe Bearman’s age when he first drove for Haas in 2024, such was the level of maturity he demonstrated behind the wheel.
His first full-time rookie season won’t all be easy though, so they have put some measures in place which should help them to see what sort of level their drivers are performing at.
READ MORE: Haas announce plans to do something for the first time in their F1 history with Oliver Bearman this week
Strangely, Bearman struggled more in Formula 2 than he did at the highest level last year which shows how much of a raw talent he is.
A report from Auto Motor und Sport suggests that Haas will use ex-driver Magnussen in TPC (testing of previous cars) tests to gain a better understanding of where their 2025 duo are.
He has competed in seven full-time seasons for them and understands every aspect of both the car and organisation inside out.
Although the Dane will have an exciting opportunity to compete for BMW in the World Endurance Championship, he gets to remain single-seater sharp with the possibility of an F1 return for 2026 still on the cards.
Why Haas could be the best team in F1’s midfield in 2025
Haas ended the 2025 season by competing for points at almost every event. Nico Hulkenberg also shepherded them into Q3 on multiple occasions too.
Aston Martin have a game-changing plan to catch up but they fell behind the American team on race pace in 2024.
Their presence in the top half of the standings is far from a foregone conclusion and it might mean that Haas are able to lift themselves to the front of the midfield for the first time since 2018.
READ MORE: F1 fans are thrilled after reading Esteban Ocon’s two-word message to Haas teammate Oliver Bearman
The development of their car away from a focus on one-lap performance has been key to their success and their ability to manage their tyres has improved massively.
Having an engineer as team boss helps a lot too, with Komatsu naturally focused on bringing the right upgrades to their car.
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