Small team, big heart: Haas looks to tap underdog status

As the checkered flag dropped at the 2026 Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, Haas crossed home in fifth and 14th place, with Briton Oliver Bearman again leading the charge for the smallest team on the grid.

Making its first appearance in Shanghai since partnering with Toyota Gazoo Racing, Shanghai represented more than just an F1 race; it was a crucial step in expanding the team's presence in Asia, particularly China, while crafting a unique underdog story.

"This is a new beginning for us," team principal Ayao Komatsu emphasized, highlighting the importance of the weekend beyond the track. "Asia has become a very, very important market for us. I think we can somewhat represent the Asian community and Asian fans, creating more opportunities to share our story in Asia and China."

Reflecting on the 2025 season, Komatsu admitted that while the car's performance was strong, operational shortcomings cost the team valuable points, leaving it eighth in the constructors' championship. The partnership with Toyota is a key step in addressing those weaknesses and planning for the long term, Komatsu explained.

"We have established a heritage team and a test team to nurture young drivers, mechanics and engineers, and we are jointly developing simulators — a capability that is critical under the new rules," said Komatsu. "I feel we're building something really solid together."

The widely documented rule changes implemented this season provide a tough challenge, but are also a rare opportunity for a small outfit like Haas. "For our small team, this always presents challenges," Komatsu noted before the race in Shanghai."But preseason testing and the Australian Grand Prix results have given us a lot of internal confidence to build on our current progress."

Beyond racing, Haas is intensifying its China strategy, launching its first interactive fan event in the country, debuting localized social media campaigns with IMG China, and opening a Weibo account last week.

"We are a racing team, but also an inclusive and approachable group. I want Chinese fans to truly feel close to us and support us for our team spirit. We (want to) connect with more fans and position Haas as a bridge to the Asian fan base."

It is hoped that Haas' driver partnership between French veteran Esteban Ocon and rookie Bearman will become a core competitive strength for the team.

"We have a fantastic driver lineup," Komatsu commented. "Oliver is a hugely talented young rookie and blisteringly fast, while Esteban brings 10 years of F1 experience, is a Grand Prix winner and regular podium finisher, and retains an intense hunger for victory. This is exactly the pairing I wanted," he added. "The drivers push each other to get better results, but, fundamentally, everyone works for the team."

Shanghai holds fond memories for Ocon, particularly last year. "We had a tough Australian Grand Prix last year, then came to Shanghai and finished fifth and eighth — that was one of the team's happiest moments," he recalled.

Chasing that feeling again this year, before the race he noted with relish: "(The new rules) have a huge impact on the driving techniques we need to use, and also on the amount of prep work we, and the engineers, have to do before each race. The Shanghai circuit is a big challenge — with all the high-speed corners, the layout, and the very long straights. All of that makes the race tough, which is a good thing, because that's what us drivers love."

Bearman, 21, making his second Shanghai appearance and first as a full-time racing driver, said: "The new rules are both an opportunity and a challenge for young drivers. I'm used to changing and adapting to new cars quickly, but this is the first time I've built a new F1 car from scratch with a team — and it's been an incredible experience so far."

Building on its middle-of-the-pack finish in Australia and solid Shanghai showing, the team's focus is clear.

"We have a highly competitive car; our core goal is to optimize track-side operations, unlock the car's full potential, seize every opportunity and no longer miss out on any points," Komatsu said.

Looking ahead, Komatsu's goals are firm, but pragmatic: "In the longer term, over the next three to five years, we're aiming to establish ourselves as a consistent front-runner in the middle of the field — fighting for P5 or P6 in the constructors' championship. Beyond that, in five to 10 years, we'd like to be challenging for podiums and race wins."