Esteban Ocon joined the Haas Formula 1 team at the beginning of the 2025 season, leaving behind his former team, Alpine. The French driver has been open about the difficulties he faced with Alpine and has contrasted those challenges with the positive environment he has now found at Haas, where he finally feels comfortable and supported.
Haas: a healthy team environment
“Compared to my previous experience, this is a healthy environment,” Esteban Ocon told Motorsport.com. “As I said, nobody hides from anything here. If we make mistakes, we talk about them and make sure they don’t happen again. And we discuss them immediately after the race.”
He added, “This is important because if you don’t address issues, which is exactly what happened to me in the past, you end up making the same mistakes again.”
The 28-year-old Frenchman emphasized that he needs a team that is present, engaged, and determined. “This team is extremely motivated,” he said. “It may sound strange, but I’ve seen demotivated people in the past, even though they were working in Formula 1 paddocks.”
“For a driver like me, who puts his heart and sweat into every task to make sure everything is perfect before hitting the track, seeing someone just going through the motions on a Monday check-in is quite difficult. And I’ve seen it often before.”
Despite lingering frustration toward Alpine, Esteban Ocon tried to communicate openly with his former team. “We were never really listened to. That’s why some problems persisted even after five years with Alpine,” he remarked. These comments were made during a summer break in 2024, shortly after he signed with Haas.
The present situation
Looking at the present, Ocon acknowledges that Haas is not perfect, but he appreciates the progress the team is making. “I’m not saying everything is perfect now,” he clarified. “Of course, there are some areas we still need to improve. But since I arrived, we have solid foundations to build on, and we are gradually improving. I’m happy with how things are going.”
The start of the 2025 season was challenging for the American team, but they quickly recovered and have collected 35 points so far. Ocon was particularly impressed by how the team handled the difficult start in Australia. “Nobody hid after the race,” he said. “Everyone came together as a real team to try and fix the situation. By the time we reached China, we were able to completely turn things around. This isn’t luck; it’s the atmosphere within the team. Nobody hides or points fingers at each other.”
Haas still has the potential to fight for a higher position in the Constructors’ Championship, as there are only 50 points separating fifth from tenth place. “We just need a faster car,” Esteban Ocon explained. “Obviously, we’ll see what happens next year, but with a more competitive car, we could go head-to-head with the strongest teams, 100%.”
Esteban Ocon in sync with Haas, now he just needs a faster car
Esteban Ocon’s move to Haas appears to have revitalized his Formula 1 career. The French driver is clearly in harmony with his current team, enjoying a collaborative and open environment where mistakes are addressed constructively. Now, all that remains for him to maximize his potential is a more competitive car that can allow him to challenge the top teams on a consistent basis. With the combination of driver determination and a motivated team, Esteban Ocon is well-positioned to make Haas a strong contender in the coming seasons.
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