Gene Haas ‘didn’t like’ what Nico Hulkenberg did before signing Esteban Ocon for 2025

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Haas have announced that Esteban Ocon will partner Oliver Bearman in 2025. They will become the first team to field an all-new driver line-up since Sauber in 2022.

The team confirmed ahead of the British Grand Prix at the start of the month that Bearman would replace Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg announced back in April that he’d be joining Sauber/Audi for 2025.

As a prelude to signing Ocon, Haas made Kevin Magnussen’s exit official in Hungary last weekend. Magnussen was approaching the end of his contract and his deal won’t be renewed.

Instead, the team have taken the opportunity to snap up the highly-rated Ocon. The Frenchman will be the first race-winner to drive for the team since they entered F1 in 2016.

From the moment that Alpine revealed Ocon’s impending exit in June, Haas has seemed like his most likely destination. It was just a matter of formalising the agreement.

Ocon apparently had a seat fitting at Williams with a view to potentially replacing Logan Sargeant for the second half of the 2024 season. But there now appears to be little prospect of that happening.

Gene Haas ‘didn’t like’ Nico Hulkenberg forcing his hand before Audi move

A report from The Race lifts the lid on the formation of Haas’ 2025 lineup. Team principal Ayao Komatsu didn’t have the chance to try and keep Hulkenberg on board.

The German has been one of the standout drivers on the grid this year, scoring back-to-back sixth-place finishes in Austria and Great Britain. That has lifted Haas to within six points of RB, with Hulkenberg responsible for 81.5% of their points tally.

• READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Haas F1 Team from team principal to Ferrari relationship

However, owner Gene Haas ‘didn’t like’ Hulkenberg trying to force him into ‘early discussions’. There was less than a quarter of the season gone when the veteran made his move.

It appears that Haas didn’t attempt to match Audi’s offer, though they may not have been able to do so anyway given the resources of the giant manufacturer. Instead, the American team shopped the market, and deemed Ocon the best alternative.

Oliver Bearman reacts as Esteban Ocon Haas move confirmed

Ocon and Bearman represent an exciting combination for Haas. The former will look to score the team’s first-ever podium after spraying the champagne three times earlier in his career.

The latter, meanwhile, is widely regarded as one of the best up-and-coming talents in motorsport after a highly impressive emergency debut for Ferrari at the Saudi Arabian GP. Haas have placed their faith in a rookie once again after the failure of their Nikita Mazepin/Mick Schumacher line-up.

Bearman has already passed on his congratulations to Ocon on social media. Komatsu will hope that they maintain a cordial relationship after watching the former Mercedes junior fall out with multiple teammates.

Haas are the fourth team to confirm their 2025 pairing after Ferrari, McLaren and Aston Martin. Red Bull still need to address the uncertainty around Sergio Perez, while the paddock is awaiting news from RB, Alpine, Williams and Sauber/Audi too.