Haas explain difficult dilemma in giving new F1 engine to one driver

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has explained the difficult dilemma the team faced in deciding which driver received Ferrari's new ADUO-boosted engine for the Italian Grand Prix. 

The team receives its power units from Ferrari, with the rules dictating that, should an ADUO-upgrade-boosted engine be available for the works team, one example should be made open to each customer squad. 

When Ferrari introduced its previous ADUO-upgraded engine in Barcelona, Haas elected to wait until both Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon could access the new unit, but given the power sensitivity at Monza, the team has decided to give Bearman the nod in using the new engine. 

Explaining the decision not to give it to Ocon, Komatsu explained the factors evaluated and how it was Bearman's turn. 

"Customers need to have 'A' unit," Komatsu confirmed to media, including RacingNews365, about the rules around customer teams receiving their ADUO-boosted power units. 

"The last time around we didn't [give it to one driver]; we waited until we had enough engines to introduce it for both drivers together. But this time, Monza is a very power-sensitive circuit, so it's a shame to have performance sitting in a garage, right? 

"It would have been better if two engines were available at least, but Ferrari's pushing like hell to get as much performance on the engine as possible. Of course, they want to introduce it at Monza, right? But that means they got the minimum quantity, so it is just to satisfy the regulation."

When then asked how the decision had been made to give the engine to Bearman, Komatsu detailed how Ocon had received early upgrades.

"It's not an aerodynamic upgrade, like items we had such as a CI brakes test, and Esteban was struggling more with brakes, so considering the Montreal upgrade we gave to Ollie, we decided to give the brake upgrade to Esteban first, and in terms of the power steering, we had another upgrade in Budapest.

"We decided to give that to Esteban because he was more vocal about it and he was struggling more on the power steering, so the last upgrade we gave to Esteban, and this time, it was Ollie. 

"There's no point bullshitting, right? We operate as transparently as possible, and of course you can't please everyone every time, but we don't have any hidden agenda. 

"We don't have any personal agenda for one driver or another. So we've been building that relationship. Perhaps of course, Esteban won't be happy not to get the power unit number four straight away. But this is the best for the team, and then this is the fairest way you can do it. 

"But then nothing is completely fair, right? So all you can do is be transparent and upfront about it."