Oliver Bearman, driver of the Haas F1 Team, commented that the team cannot extract more performance from its 2026 Formula 1 car, following the United States Grand Prix. Despite a promising start during the first practice sessions at the Circuit of the Americas, where he finished tenth and eleventh, he ended up qualifying in 16th position.
Bearman explained that this drop in classification is due to the almost perfect setup they achieved from the start, which did not allow his VF-26 to keep pace with the competition. “We are doing a good job as a team and maximizing the car’s performance since FP1,” he stated. “The setup was good, but we lack downforce. It feels good, but we are not as fast as the others.”
The British driver pointed out that the last major update package was during the Italian Grand Prix nearly two months ago, and since then, no significant updates have been introduced, except for a specific rear impact structure for the Sepang circuit.
“I’m not surprised that we maintain the same gap to the leaders and that others have improved and surpassed us,” Bearman said. According to him, the car has good characteristics, but the lack of downforce is clear and becomes evident as the lap progresses, especially during qualifying, where tire performance deteriorates rapidly.
Bearman added that it is frustrating, as his rivals have made significant improvements this weekend, thus increasing their competitiveness. “If what happened with Pierre hadn’t occurred, I would have followed his line and maybe gotten passed. We need points, and for that, we have to improve the car,” he commented.
Regarding whether they can expect more from the VF-26, Bearman was clear: “Unfortunately, no. It has reached its ceiling. If I was just driving without competition, I feel the car is fantastic. But downforce is key, and we lack resources in that aspect.”
His teammate, Esteban Ocon, had a different experience, also highlighting the lack of consistency in the braking system during the race. “I have to brake well in advance, and still suffer from locking up and understeering,” Ocon explained, who finished in 14th position, 34 seconds away from points.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
