New-Look Haas Gelling Nicely

Haas is undergoing a trackside team shake-up for 2025,with Team Principal ayao Komatsu implementing changes he identified as necessary at the start of 2024. These changes aim to optimize team performance and driver integration. The team is looking to build on its seventh-place finish from the previous year.

Key personnel changes include laura Mueller and ronan O’Hare stepping up as race engineers for Esteban Ocon and oliver Bearman, respectively. francesco Nenci has also joined the team as chief race engineer. The integration process has been facilitated by Ocon’s early start in Abu Dhabi last December, which allowed the team to develop a new steering wheel tailored to his clutch paddle preferences. Bearman’s prior experience with Haas,including previous sessions and races,along with a private test day in Jerez in January,have further aided the transition.

Komatsu emphasized the importance of team cohesion, stating, “It’s going pretty well, we knew gelling everyone was one of our biggest challenges, with two new drivers, so lots of prep before coming here and I think it’s paying off.”

Esteban Ocon echoed this sentiment,highlighting the need for alignment between driver and team: “I’ve had my way of working and the teams had theirs,so we need to align and understand each other once I’m inside the car—and that’s what we’ve been doing.”

During testing, Haas focused primarily on long-run pace. Ocon and Bearman encountered no major issues, aside from some bodywork coming loose on Day 3, which will require reinforcement before the Melbourne race. The team’s primary objective is to establish itself within the competitive midfield pack.

Oliver Bearman expressed familiarity with the team’s direction, stating, “It feels like a continuation of what I’ve felt over the years with the team, having driven the VF-23 and the VF-24.”

No One Experienced a Disaster

Formula 1 is in the fourth and final year of the current regulation cycle, leading to stability and convergence among teams. The impending rule changes for 2026 have also contributed to a relatively smooth testing period for all teams.

All teams arrived in Bahrain on time, and there were no major incidents or significant performance disparities. The most notable issues were minor spins due to cold tires and some extended garage time for certain teams as they accumulated mileage. This stability reflects the close competition seen at the end of the 2024 season,where teams were separated by mere tenths of a second in single-lap pace.

Reliability has been generally strong, with interruptions primarily caused by external factors.Day 1 saw a circuit-wide power cut affecting floodlights and garage power, while Day 2 experienced unusually cold and damp conditions. On the final day, a pane of glass fell onto the track from the starter’s box, and a mini-bus briefly drove across the run-off area at turn 9.However, the maturity of the regulations has ensured strong reliability overall.

In 2024, out of 480 race entries, there were only 46 failures to finish, representing less than 10% of entries.Over half of these retirements were due to accidents rather than mechanical failures, underscoring the improved reliability of the cars.

Drivers Are united

Following tensions last year regarding restrictions on swearing, the grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) issued a public letter to the FIA. The governing body has continued to enforce these rules, with fines and potential suspensions now codified in the international Sporting Code.

GPDA director George Russell stated that the drivers are more united than ever, “especially with everything that’s going on off-track.” Russell is now joined by Carlos Sainz of Williams as a GPDA Director, replacing Sebastian Vettel, who retired two years ago.

F1 2026 Is Already Top of Mind

Formula 1 teams are constantly planning for the future, especially with significant rule changes on the horizon. The 2026 season is a major focus, and while all teams have begun working on various concepts, the allocation of personnel and resources will depend on their current performance and expectations.

Teams further down the grid may find it easier to shift focus to 2026, while those competing for wins and championships face a more difficult decision. ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur acknowledged this challenge, stating, “It will be the question of the year,” regarding when to halt 2025 development. “With five races in six weeks we will have a picture of the championship and this will steer the direction. The pack will be tight, and it will be a tough choice.”

Balancing the pursuit of the 2025 title with the development of the 2026 car presents a significant strategic challenge for all teams.

Antonelli Faces Hamilton’s Shadow at Mercedes

As the Formula 1 world anticipates the 2025 season, one of the most talked-about potential moves involves Kimi Antonelli possibly replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes. Antonelli faces the daunting task of filling the shoes of a seven-time world champion.

Hamilton Happy with Life at Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton is enjoying a positive start with Ferrari, fully embracing his new habitat.Despite his past aversion to testing,Hamilton has been eager about the long days at the track,immersing himself in the details of Ferrari life. He is adapting to new working practices, settings, and building relationships with his engineers and team members after 12 years with Mercedes.

“I’m not necessarily unlearning what I learned before but it’s kind of re-learning this new way of working and the way the car likes to be driven, it likes to be driven differently, and that’s a really fun journey learning that,” Hamilton told broadcasters, emphasizing the exciting challenge of adapting to a new car and team.

Hamilton stated that his start at Ferrari “couldn’t have gone any better,” a sentiment reflected in his positive demeanor. The enthusiasm and positive body language mark a significant change from late 2024, when he often questioned his own performance.

“It’s early to say but I am really enjoying the car, we’re slowly bonding, I think. I would say this is the most positive feeling I’ve had for some time.”

While a minor data anomaly cut short Hamilton’s race simulation on the final afternoon, he remained pleased with his test overall. Ferrari’s team boss, Frederic Vasseur, reiterated the team’s ambitions, stating, “We want to fight for both championships as we certainly know we have two drivers who can do it, and the mood in the team is very positive.”

The Midfield Should Be Close

Formula 1 is widely perceived to have a distinct top tier, followed by a closely contested midfield. Some front-runners anticipate occasional challenges from other teams due to the maturity of the regulations and natural convergence. The midfield teams, including Aston martin, Alpine, Haas, and Williams, are expected to be closely matched.

Aston Martin aims to regain its footing after a late 2024 slump, while Alpine and Haas seek to maintain their strong end-of-year form. Williams hopes to join the mix after a smoother winter preparation compared to the previous year. The addition of Carlos Sainz has been a significant boost for Williams,even though Sainz remains cautious.

“When I push it I can get to a decent level but I still don’t know where the last two tenths of the car are and this is something I’ll need to discover in the first six races when we put the soft tyres on,” Sainz said,highlighting the ongoing process of fully understanding the car’s capabilities.

Racing Bulls and Sauber appear to be at the back of the pack. Yuki Tsunoda noted, “I think it’ll be a little bit trickier to score points and fight for top 10. There’s a step forward but not enough compared to what we want so far.”

Haas F1 Team’s Engineering Efforts

The Haas F1 Team is focused on refining their car’s performance through meticulous engineering work. Laura Mueller, a race engineer for Haas F1, is seen working diligently in the garage, highlighting the team’s commitment to improving their competitiveness.