Ocon Confronts Komatsu's Verdict: A Candid Look at Haas's 2025 F1 Woes
The truth hurts, but sometimes it's necessary. Esteban Ocon has offered a refreshingly honest take on Haas F1 Team principal Ayao Komatsu's blunt assessment of his underwhelming 2025 F1 season, acknowledging the struggles while firmly pointing to shared responsibility within the team.
Key Points from Ocon's Response:
- Ayao Komatsu's public critique of Esteban Ocon's 2025 season performance came as "no surprise."
- Ocon finished 15th, three points behind rookie teammate Oliver Bearman, who also out-qualified him 17-11.
- The French driver highlighted persistent VF-25 car issues, specifically "front-locking" and instability under braking, that affected his side of the garage.
- A dramatic turnaround at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale, from feeling like a "rookie" to securing Q3 and seventh place, demonstrated his potential when the car was sorted.
The Hard Truth from Haas HQ
It's rare to hear a team boss lay out such a frank appraisal, but Ayao Komatsu didn't mince words. Last week, the Haas chief declared, "we expected more" from the Grand Prix winner, admitting "nobody’s satisfied with Esteban’s sporting result" during his debut 2025 F1 season with the American outfit.
Those comments followed a challenging year for Ocon, who landed 15th in the drivers' championship with a mere 38 points. This tally placed him three points shy of his rookie teammate, Oliver Bearman, who impressively out-qualified the veteran 17-11 (excluding technical issues). It was a performance deficit that simply couldn't be ignored.
Ocon's Candid Reply: No Surprises
For Esteban Ocon, Komatsu's public comments were anything but shocking. Speaking during the Bahrain pre-season test for the upcoming 2026 campaign, Ocon confirmed, "It was not really a surprise to see Ayao's comments." He revealed extensive winter discussions, highlighting an "up-and-down season for the whole team" that lacked straightforward progress.
Crucially, Ocon stressed that Komatsu didn't entirely place the blame on him. The team principal had openly stated the responsibility was "50-50," acknowledging that Haas also failed to provide a car that the 29-year-old was consistently comfortable with. This shared accountability is a vital component of moving forward.
A Troubling Tandem: Driver and Machine
A major contributing factor to Ocon's struggles, he revealed, was a persistent dissatisfaction with the VF-25's handling, particularly under braking. "I said it many times last year for 12, 13, 14 races, I had this issue of front-locking, this issue of instability," Ocon explained.
What made this situation particularly frustrating for Ocon was the apparent uniqueness of the problem to his garage. He noted that these specific issues were "very different on the other side of the garage" with Bearman. "It was similar pressure on the brakes, similar condition across the two cars – locking for me, not on the other side," he detailed, suggesting a fundamental car characteristic rather than a driving style mismatch.
The Glimmer of Hope: Abu Dhabi Turnaround
Despite the season-long challenges, Ocon pointed to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix finale as a powerful indicator of his true capabilities. After struggling significantly on Friday, where he admitted to "felt like a rookie," crucial set-up changes revitalized his car.
The result? Ocon stormed into Q3, out-qualified Bearman, and impressively climbed to seventh place in the race. This late-season surge, he believes, clearly showcased what's possible when the VF-25 performs as it should. "Whatever we changed in Abu Dhabi, suddenly the car came back to life," he affirmed, eager to carry that momentum forward.
What Lies Ahead for Ocon and Haas?
With a challenging 2025 season now firmly in the rearview mirror, Esteban Ocon is focused on the future. His acceptance of Komatsu's critique, combined with the team's acknowledged share of the blame and the late-season breakthrough, sets a clear agenda for Haas.
"We are working all together, always trying to do the best," Ocon stated, emphasizing a unified effort. "There are things that we missed as a team, overall, and that we should have done better. I'm expecting that we all do that this year and we put, obviously, last year behind." The upcoming 2026 season will be a true test of this renewed commitment and whether Ocon and Haas can find their consistent rhythm.
