Following a frustrating weekend at the 2025 F1 Spanish GP, Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman are setting their sights on recovery at the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix. The pair finished a disappointing P16 and P17 respectively at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, capping off a mixed run across the recent triple-header.
A triple-header of highs and lows
Haas experienced a rollercoaster of form during the demanding run of three consecutive races. The team celebrated a notable high in Monaco, where Esteban Ocon secured a strong seventh-place finish. However, the momentum did not carry into Barcelona.
In Spain, strategic decisions ultimately hindered Haas’ race outcome. Ocon remained on track during a late Safety Car period while running older medium tyres—a call that cost him several positions during the restart.
Reflecting on the race, Ocon said, “We tried to stay obviously on the used tyres on the last Safety Car – we were going to go at the back of the grid so it was not really worth it.”
“But yeah, end of the triple header for us, obviously some positives and a little bit more difficult at times, but thanks for the team for the support that they gave us during this triple. I think it is good now that we are going into a week where we can analyse things and hopefully come back stronger.”
Eyes on Montreal: Ocon targets redemption
Despite Haas’ disappointment at the 2025 F1 Spanish GP, Ocon remains optimistic about what lies ahead. He views the Canadian Grand Prix as an opportunity to return to form, especially given the similarities between the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve and Monaco.
“We will take the positives out of the races that we had like Monaco, obviously Canada is another street circuit, so looking to get back where we belong in the next one,” the Frenchman added.
The 28-year-old hopes that the lessons learned from the triple-header will translate into a more competitive showing in Montreal.
Bearman shows resilience despite setback
Oliver Bearman also experienced a challenging Sunday in Barcelona. At one stage, the Haas rookie appeared poised to fight for the lower points positions at the 2025 F1 Spanish GP. However, a 10-second time penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage in a battle with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson dropped him to the rear of the field.
“It was going okay,” Bearman said after the race. “Unfortunately we were not quite able to fight for any points today, but I think we made progress over the weekend and the car has been feeling a bit better today than it did on Friday and Saturday in long runs, so that is positive.”
“Unfortunately at the Safety Car we lost a little bit, which is a shame but it happens.”
Barcelona heat highlights weaknesses
Bearman, like Ocon, took a pragmatic view of the team’s performance across the three events. While acknowledging progress, he pointed out that the extreme heat in Barcelona may have exposed underlying limitations in the VF-24’s race pace.
“I think we struggled a bit more for pace this weekend relative to the others, but overall we have had a good showing in the previous three rounds,” the 20-year-old explained.
“I think there is a lot to take from it, a lot to learn, particularly from this weekend which was incredibly hot, and I think we exposed a few weaknesses with our race pace, but moving on to Canada I am looking forward to it.”
Optimism ahead as Haas focuses on improvements
As Formula 1 heads to North America, the Haas camp is determined to use the short break to regroup and refine. Both drivers believe that the key lies in extracting the positives from recent races while addressing the areas where performance faltered. With Montreal offering a semi-street layout similar to Monaco, Haas could once again find conditions that suit their car and driving styles.
The upcoming Canadian Grand Prix will serve as a litmus test for Haas’s mid-season development and their capacity to respond under pressure.
