Bearman Says Haas 2026 Car Has Hit Its Ceiling, Ocon Complains of Inconsistent Brakes

Oliver Bearman has stated that the Haas team can no longer extract more potential from the VF-26 he is driving in the 2026 season. The remark came after he finished 16th at the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas on Sunday (19/10/2025). Yet in Friday's free practice sessions, Bearman had shown promising pace by placing 11th and 10th.

The British driver explained that the drop in performance occurred because his team had found an almost perfect setup from the first free practice session (FP1). As a result, the car no longer developed over the course of the weekend, while rivals kept refining their packages. “We literally only changed the ride height by one millimeter all weekend. The car was the same from the start to the race,” Bearman said, as quoted by Motorsport.com.

According to Bearman, the car's balance felt very good, but a lack of downforce was the main problem. “The car feels nice to drive, but we are not fast enough compared to the others. The longer the stint, the more the performance drops because the tires wear quickly,” he added. He also highlighted the fact that Haas brought its last major upgrade package at the Italian GP, almost two months ago, and since then there have been no new components other than a special rear impact structure for Sepang.

Bearman did not hide his disappointment. “I am not surprised we are losing the gap to the leader and other teams that keep developing. Our car does have good characteristics, but it lacks downforce. That is why I do not regret taking the risk of overtaking Pierre (Gasly). Otherwise, I would just have followed him and might have been passed by Audi,” he said. He stressed that his team needs a faster car to be able to score points.

However, his teammate, Esteban Ocon, has a different view on the car's comfort. The French driver complained about inconsistent braking, especially in qualifying. “When the tires start to lose grip, I have to anticipate braking 10-15 meters earlier, but even then the wheels often lock and there is severe understeer. It feels uncomfortable and hard to predict,” Ocon explained. He added that the problem had been present throughout the weekend and could only be minimized, not eliminated.

Both Haas drivers are indeed facing a challenging season. With car development halted, the American team is now falling behind its competitors in the constructors' standings. Nevertheless, Bearman believes his team has done its best with the resources available. “We just need a faster car. That is clear,” he said.

Going forward, Haas faces a dilemma between allocating resources to 2026 development or shifting focus to the new 2027 regulations. Without significant improvement, their position in the midfield could continue to erode. Will Haas be able to bounce back, or will it sink further in the remaining races?