Ayao Komatsu admits why it’s a ‘waste of time’ Oliver Bearman driving 2026 Haas F1 car in simulator

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Haas rookie Oliver Bearman has proven himself to be a match for one-time F1 Grand Prix winner Esteban Ocon amid their first campaign as teammates so far this season.

The American squad acquired an all-new driver line-up for the 2025 F1 season, as Haas took Bearman on loan from Ferrari and signed Ocon following his release by Alpine. Bearman is a product of Ferrari’s Driver Academy and will spend, at least, his first two terms in F1 at Haas.

Ocon also joined Haas on an initial two-year contract from the 2025 F1 season to embark on the Frenchman’s ninth campaign. But the 29-year-old, who won the Hungarian Grand Prix in 2021 with Alpine, has not been able to use his superior experience to overshadow Bearman.

Through Bearman’s first 18 rounds as a full-time driver, after the 20-year-old’s three cameos during 2024, he and Ocon are level in their head-to-heads for Grand Prix results (9-9) and in qualifying (9-9). Yet Haas have seen Ocon score 28 points to Bearman’s 18 so far this term.

Haas see no value in Oliver Bearman testing their 2026 F1 rules car until 2025 is over

Sam Bird believes Bearman will be “fighting for wins” by 2027 while driving with a top team, as well, having impressed with P9 in last Sunday’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Havering native also earned a career-best P6 in August’s Dutch Grand Prix, despite starting from the pit lane.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and aero regulations

Yet team principal Ayao Komatsu admits that Haas have made the “deliberate choice” to not have Bearman or Ocon test the team’s car for the 2026 F1 regulations in the simulator. Haas do not see any value in having their race drivers test a package that will quickly get changed.

Instead, Bearman and Ocon must wait until after the 2025 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December to test Haas’ car for next year’s major regulations overhaul. Haas want the drivers focusing on their 2025 F1 constructors’ championship fight, instead of next season.

Komatsu said, via Motorsport.com: “It was a deliberate choice, looking at who we are, our constraints and all that. But the thing is, we’re doing a lot of development without using simulator drivers. And so far, things are progressing quite a bit.

“Progressing in the sense that they’re changing a lot. So, we didn’t want to bring a driver in too early and then force him to train in a certain scenario that, a month or two later, would be completely different. That would be a waste of time.

“Obviously, the midfield battle is so tight this year that we wanted them to focus on that. After Abu Dhabi, the car will be finalised. So, we preferred to do it this way.”

Haas might regret overlooking Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon’s 2026 car feedback

Haas are fighting for millions in prize money with six rounds of the 2025 F1 season still to go. The American squad currently sit ninth in the standings, with only Alpine scoring fewer than Haas’ 46 points with 20. But Racing Bulls, Aston Martin and Sauber are all still within reach.

READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know

Thus, Bearman and Ocon will have to hope Haas’ engineers can use what feedback the pair have offered about the VF-25 so far this term to shape how their car for the 2026 rules will handle. It might be a mistake for Haas to overlook what their drivers feel in their 2026 car.

While there will be three pre-season tests to begin the 2026 F1 calendar, including a private test in Barcelona at the end of January, Haas will not have a great amount of time to modify their new car based on Bearman and Ocon’s feedback at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.