Esteban Ocon has responded calmly and confidently to Ayao Komatsu’s candid assessment of his 2025 Formula 1 campaign, making it clear that he was neither surprised nor offended by the Haas team principal’s review. Komatsu, who took charge of Haas F1 Team, offered a straightforward evaluation of the team’s season and Ocon’s performances, highlighting both the struggles and the areas where progress was visible.
Ocon acknowledged that the internal conversations about performance had already taken place well before Komatsu’s public comments. According to the French driver, the team had openly discussed the challenges throughout the season and during winter preparations. Rather than viewing the review as criticism, Ocon sees it as part of an honest working relationship built on transparency and shared responsibility.
The 2025 season proved to be inconsistent for Haas. While there were flashes of competitiveness, the car often lacked balance and predictability. Ocon pointed to specific handling issues, including front locking and instability that made it difficult to extract maximum performance during qualifying and race stints. He suggested that some of these difficulties were not entirely within his control, emphasizing that the car did not always suit his driving style.
Despite the setbacks, Ocon highlighted the progress made toward the end of the year. Improvements in setup and understanding of the car allowed him to deliver stronger performances in the closing rounds. A standout result in Abu Dhabi demonstrated what he believes is possible when the package works in harmony. That performance served as a reminder of his capability and reinforced his belief that the underlying potential remains strong.
Komatsu’s review of the season was not aimed solely at Ocon. It reflected broader structural and developmental challenges faced by the team as it continues to rebuild and refine its technical direction. Haas is still in a transitional phase, striving to close the gap to the midfield while laying foundations for future competitiveness under evolving regulations.
For Ocon, the key takeaway is unity. He stressed that both driver and team share responsibility for results and that progress will only come through collective effort. His response signals maturity and determination rather than defensiveness. As the focus shifts to the next campaign, Ocon appears motivated to turn lessons from 2025 into tangible gains on track.
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