Esteban Ocon issues remarkable verdict on first ever Haas test after joining from Alpine

Esteban Ocon took to the tarmac at Jerez this week in his first ever test with Haas in Formula 1.

The Frenchman joined the American team from Alpine in 2025 after spending five years with the Enstone-based outfit.

Ocon struggled in his final season with Alpine as the team regressed in performance and arguably had the slowest car at the start of the year.

The 28-year-old had only scored five points from the opening 20 Grand Prix before he finished an incredible second at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Teammate Pierre Gasly – who had scored just nine points before this race – came home third, propelling Alpine to sixth in the Constructors’ Championship.

Ocon’s relationship with Alpine slowly deteriorated throughout 2024 and was even rumoured to be dropped in Canada after colliding with Gasly in Monaco – although that never came to fruition.

His exit was confirmed not long after that and Ocon’s contract was cancelled before the season finale in Abu Dhabi. This allowed the Frenchman to join his new team Haas early and Alpine to run Jack Doohan before his first full season in F1.

Esteban Ocon claims Haas test was the ‘best’ he has ever had in F1

Making his debut with Manor in 2016, Ocon has had a plethora of tests in his F1 career. He served as Mercedes’ test and reserve driver in 2019 after he was by Racing Point the year prior.

He returned to a full-time seat in 2020 with Renault, who rebranded to Alpine the following season. To this day, Ocon is the team’s only winner with his victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Haas ran their first TPC test (Testing of Previous Cars) this week at Jerez with Ocon, teammate Oliver Bearman and Ritomo Miyata taking part.

Despite all the test sessions the Frenchman has had in his career so far, Ocon has claimed that his outing at Jerez was the ‘best test day’ he had ever done.

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Speaking on Haas’ Instagram account, he said: “Hello everyone. Just completed the day. Just finished the day with Ritomo in the wheel for the afternoon.

“And yeah, it was awesome to get back on track. Really felt comfortable, I honestly thought that was the best test day I’ve ever done.

“We completed all the program. Yeah, it was good fun to drive this VF-23, that I’ve been driving for the first time and then to come here in Jerez since 10 years.

“So, it’s definitely a very quick circuit, which was good fun. And yeah, makes me want to get back in the wheel very soon, but it will come soon.”

How will Esteban Ocon fare against Oliver Bearman at Haas?

Judging by Ocon’s claim at Jerez, the 28-year-old already feels integrated within the Haas setup. He will be keen to help push the team forward after an impressive 2024 season.

Under Ayao Komatsu, Haas have made significant improvements on the track as they narrowly missed out on sixth in the Constructors’ Championship to Alpine. The team had arguably the fifth-fastest car come the end of the season.

Ocon will be a great asset to the team with his experience and his second place at Sao Paulo proves he can still be competitive. But he will face a tough challenge going up against Bearman.

The Brit is already familiar with Haas having made two appearances in 2024 in Baku and Sao Paulo, impressing in both races under different circumstances.

F1 fans are thrilled with the Ocon and Bearman partnership as Haas seem to have the right balance of experience and young talent to move forward in F1.