Haas shocks the paddock with intermediate tyre test in Bahrain. Ocon reveals Haas’ unusual intermediate tyre run during Bahrain testing.

During the Bahrain pre-season testing, Esteban Ocon carried out a surprising test by running intermediate tyres on his Haas, revealing the American team’s reasoning behind this unusual choice. Despite the high desert temperatures, Haas decided to mount the intermediates on Esteban Ocon’s car, catching the attention of teams and fans alike.

Even though it is Bahrain, all teams had wet-weather tyre sets available. While extremely rare in these winter tests, last year the Sakhir circuit did see rain during testing. Pirelli has noted that it is quite complicated to test these wet compounds before the season begins, which is why a dedicated session will soon be held with the track artificially wetted. McLaren and Mercedes are expected to be the main participants in that test.

Ocon explains Haas’ intermediate tyre run

Returning to Haas’ decision, the team ran the intermediate compounds during testing despite track temperatures exceeding 40°C under the scorching Bahraini sun. Esteban Ocon explained that the move was linked to specific FIA tests required with the 2026 cars.

“It’s a different kind of test that teams need to perform before the start of the season,” Esteban Ocon told media at Sakhir. The French driver clarified that in low-grip conditions on the track, similar to wet scenarios, active aerodynamics would be applied only to the front wing. The movable rear flap, on the other hand, remains closed. Haas conducted the test accordingly.

As seen in footage from the session, Ocon also took the opportunity to enjoy himself on track, joking about the run: “A little drifting session,” he added with a laugh. “We were expecting rain, so we said, ‘let’s go for it.’ But yes, I had fun.”

The test highlights Haas’ proactive approach to understanding the 2026 regulations and their focus on data gathering even in unexpected scenarios. While intermediate tyres in hot, dry conditions may appear unusual, the exercise provided valuable insights into aerodynamic behavior and vehicle dynamics under low-grip conditions, preparing the team for any surprises once the season officially begins.