Haas F1 Team Secures Double Points Finish at Bahrain Grand Prix
Haas F1 displayed remarkable resilience and strategic prowess, clinching a double points finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team’s aggressive strategy paid off, allowing Esteban Ocon and rookie Oliver Bearman to earn valuable points amidst a fiercely competitive midfield battle.
Haas F1’s Aggressive Strategy in Bahrain
Following a challenging qualifying session, Haas entered the race on the back foot. Esteban Ocon’s crash in Q2 limited him to a starting position of 14th, while rookie teammate Oliver Bearman faced difficulties and began from the rear of the grid. However, the team opted for an aggressive strategy to seize any opportunities that arose during the high-degradation race.
Ocon’s Early Pitting Strategy
Ocon’s early pit stop on lap 8 for medium tyres was crucial. This decision allowed him to leapfrog competitors like Jack Doohan, Yuki Tsunoda, and even Max Verstappen, as he sustained his pace on the softer compound while others struggled with hard tyres. However, this aggressive move came with risks, as it set him up for a later pit stop on lap 27 for hard rubber, which he had to nurse under difficult conditions.
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu remarked on the strategy: “We just had to make it work… A medium or soft would have been better at that point, for sure. But we already made the decision.”
Securing Points Amidst Challenges
Despite facing pressure from Verstappen, Ocon managed to hold his ground, finishing the race in eighth place and adding four points to his tally. Bearman, starting from 20th, demonstrated impressive racecraft by moving up to 15th early on and eventually finishing in the points after a well-timed soft tyre strategy during a late safety car period. His efforts secured the final point, emphasizing Haas’s competitive resurgence.
Emotional Triumph for Haas F1 Team
The double points finish propelled Haas into fifth place in the constructors’ championship, accumulating 20 points. An emotional Komatsu expressed joy over the team’s effort: “It’s just a whole team effort… Everything was amazing.” His appreciation of Bearman’s growth was evident, noting that this performance is what he expected from the rookie.
While pleased with the results, Komatsu cautioned that the team still faces challenges with car performance, particularly regarding aerodynamic issues. Despite these worries, the strong performance in Bahrain showcased Haas’s potential to compete with established teams like Mercedes and Red Bull.
As Haas F1 looks to build on this momentum in future races, both Ocon and Bearman have proven they can deliver strong results under pressure, marking a significant improvement for the team this season.