Haas reveal 2025 F1 car launch plans

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has confirmed the American squad's pre-season plans and crucially, when its new car will break cover for the first time. The 48-year-old also outlined the initial split of driving duties between Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, as the pair embark on their first season racing for the Banbury-based outfit. Having moved over from Alpine, the former is settling into a new team as a full-time driver for the first time since 2020, whilst the latter - although a rookie - twice raced for Haas last season in place of Kevin Magnussen. Like the rest of the F1 paddock, Haas will officially unveil its 2025 car at the O2 on February 18, as part of F175 . However, Komatsu explained that the car will get a prior run-out, at Silverstone. This will happen two days before, on February 16. "So, we'll do a filming day in Silverstone first, and then go to Bahrain [and] do a filming day in Bahrain," he told select media including RacingNews365 . "The filming day in Bahrain is two days before the official test starts." That second filming day will therefore take place on February 24, with pre-season commencing on February 26.

Haas confirm Bearman will start pre-season testing for the team

Komatsu provided further clarity on the division of labour between Ocon and Bearman over the two filming days, with the Frenchman getting his hands on Haas' 2025 challenger first. The reason for doing so, according to Komatsu, is the 28-year-old's installation could prove more difficult - a reference to Ocon's height and leg length. This means his team-mate will go straight from his Bahrain running into the start of pre-season testing. "We're gonna have Esteban driving in Silverstone, because Esteban, in terms of driver installation is more challenging," he said. "We just want to make sure 100 percent that installation is fine, so if we've got issues, we've got more time to react to it." "With Esteban, we're pretty confident as well, but we're more confident with Ollie's installation. So, Esteban first, and then Ollie in the Bahrain shakedown. That means Ollie is going to start pre-season testing."