Ayao Komatsu: Esteban Ocon axing ‘surprised everybody at Haas’
Ayao Komatsu says “everybody was surprised” when he told the Haas squad that Esteban Ocon wouldn’t compete for the outfit in Formula 1’s Mexican Grand Prix. Ocon was dropped by Haas after a falling-out following Friday practice at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Despite widespread speculation, what actually occurred remains unknown – other than a disagreement with race engineer Laura ... Keep…
Ayao Komatsu, the team principal of Haas F1 Team, revealed that Esteban Ocon's exclusion from the Mexican Grand Prix left his team members "surprised." The decision followed a disagreement between Ocon and the team's race engineer Laura Mueller over run plans during Friday's practice session at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Ocon was replaced by reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the remainder of the weekend, marking the end of Haas' involvement with Ocon this season.
Komatsu, who has been working with Ocon for two years, emphasized the importance of transparency and learning during his tenure but declined to provide further details about the Ocon situation. Meanwhile, Haas secured a new driver in the form of Rafael Camara, a 2027 recruit, who made his F1 debut alongside Oliver Bearman this weekend.
Bearman expressed excitement about pairing up with a strong competitor in Camara, noting that Esteban's presence had pushed him hard in the past.
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