Guenther Steiner has one ‘wish’ for former team Haas for the rest of the 2025 F1 season

Haas are looking to build upon a strong end to 2024 in the 2025 Formula 1 season.

Under the guidance of Ayao Komatsu, the American outfit lifted themselves of the bottom of the constructors’ championship last season. With Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, Haas narrowly missed out on sixth to Alpine.

Finishing the season with arguably the fifth-fastest car, the team looked to carry the momentum into 2025. Komatsu built a strong pairing over the winter as Hulkenberg and Magnussen were replaced by Estéban Ocon and Oliver Bearman.

The latter impressed in his three substitute appearances for Ferrari and Haas in 2024, landing him a full-time seat this season. Guenther Steiner would have kept Hulkenberg over Ocon, but the Frenchman has helped the team produce a strong start to 2025.

After five races, the team are sixth in the standings, just five points behind Williams. While Ocon has struggled for consistency, Bearman has been hugely impressive and has quickly become a fan favourite.

Haas’ recent performances stand as a great recovery, however. The season did not get off to a good start at the Australian Grand Prix.

Guenther Stieiner wishes Haas do not repeat their weekend in Australia in 2025

Pre-season testing was challenging for Haas as they infamously did not run a qualifying simulation. This left many in the dark as to where their performance actually was – Melbourne proved how much work was required.

Bearman had a torrid weekend as he crashed in FP1 and FP3. In qualifying, a mechanical issue meant he could not set a time and started last, while Ocon joined him on the back row.

Komatsu was ‘blindsided’ by Haas’ lack of pace in Melbourne as it came as a complete shock to the team principal. Ocon and Bearman limped home 13th and 14th as they kept their VF-25s out of the walls in the tricky conditions.

The team have since gone on to challenge for Q3 and fight for points. Speaking on the Chequered Flag podcast, former boss Steiner hopes the team do not repeat that weekend in Melbourne.

“I mean, Australia was not a good race, China was a very good race, also circumstances helped there in the end.

“There’s still a lot of people there from day one and I just wish them not to be where they were in Australia.”

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Has Oliver Bearman proven himself to be the lead driver at Haas?

Haas’ dismal weekend in Melbourne was followed by a spectacular result in Shanghai. Ocon and Bearman finished P5 and P8 – aided by Ferrari’s double disqualification – to record a double points finish.

The duo scored points again in Bahrain, with Ocon having 14 points to Bearman’s six. Despite this, the Frenchman is struggling to find the right balance with the car compared to his teammate.

Bearman has produced some stunning drives in the VF-25 this season, including going from last to 10th in Bahrain to score a point. The Brit seems comfortable in the car, while Ocon is having difficulty adapting to the setup.

Ocon criticised the new floor in Suzuka as he was knocked out in Q1, but Komatsu stated both cars benefitted from it, with Bearman making Q3. In Jeddah, the Frenchman was knocked out again before Q2.

Karun Chandhok thinks Bearman is emerging as team leader at Haas as Ocon struggles for consistency. The 19-year-old has proven to be a strong contender in the midfield – his teammate will want to find improvement.