Haas introduces first major VF-26 upgrade package in Canada
Haas is preparing to tackle the Montréal weekend with the first significant upgrade package of the VF-26 season. The American team arrives at the Canadian Grand Prix during a particularly delicate phase of the championship, with the midfield battle tighter than ever and the clear objective of making another performance step forward after encouraging progress in recent races.
The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve presents a unique challenge for teams and drivers alike. At 4.3 kilometres in length, the Montréal circuit is one of the shortest tracks on the Formula 1 calendar, but also one of the most unforgiving.
The combination of high-speed chicanes, heavy braking zones and aggressive kerbs puts enormous pressure on both the cars and the drivers, while the famous walls surrounding the circuit leave virtually no room for mistakes.
This year’s Canadian Grand Prix will also host the Sprint format for the first time, making it the second consecutive Sprint weekend after Miami. In addition, the decision to move the race to May could create further uncertainty regarding weather conditions, with cooler temperatures and a greater chance of rain compared to the traditional summer slot.
Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu is approaching the weekend with confidence, particularly because of the arrival of the new development package.
“As a team we are really looking forward to returning to Canada. Montréal is a fantastic city and the circuit has a unique history. This year we are racing earlier than usual, so the weather could play a major role,” Komatsu explained.
Like Mercedes, Haas chose not to introduce any major updates during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, instead focusing its efforts on bringing a more substantial package to Montréal.
“We have an upgrade coming and, because it’s a Sprint weekend, we will only have FP1 to evaluate it and try to extract the maximum performance immediately. There is a lot of work to do in a very short amount of time, but other teams managed it successfully in Miami and we are ready for the challenge.”
The objective for the American team is very clear.
“We want to fight consistently for top-10 positions and maximise the potential of the car in what is proving to be a very competitive season.”
Ollie Bearman targeting stronger Canadian GP result
Ollie Bearman is also approaching the Canadian Grand Prix with optimism. The young British driver hopes to improve on the result he achieved in Montréal during the 2025 Formula 1 season.
“Last year in Montréal I think there was potential to achieve more than P11, so I want to do better this time,” Oliver Bearman said. “We are bringing an important upgrade, even if with the Sprint format it will be difficult to immediately find the perfect operating window.”
Despite the limited practice time available during Sprint weekends, the Haas driver remains optimistic about the team’s chances.
“I’m convinced that we can be part of the group fighting for points in both races.”
Esteban Ocon confident after simulator work with Haas
Esteban Ocon also heads into the Canadian Grand Prix after spending significant time working in the simulator alongside the Haas team following the Miami weekend.
“It was useful to have a couple of weeks after Miami to regroup and prepare ourselves,” Ocon explained. “Racing here is always special, also because French is spoken here and the atmosphere is incredible.”
The French driver admitted that the Miami Grand Prix provided important lessons for the team moving forward.
“It was a difficult race for us, but it gave us a lot of information about where we need to improve. We have new parts on the car and we hope to make them work immediately, even if a Sprint weekend makes everything more complicated.”
With the midfield battle becoming increasingly close in Formula 1, Haas hopes the new VF-26 upgrade package can provide the extra performance needed to establish itself as a regular top-10 contender during the remainder of the 2026 season.
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