Haas reveal crucial factor for drivers contending for 2027 F1 seat

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has outlined the criteria that suitors for a Haas F1 drive must meet for 2027.

The American outfit has not formally declared its line-up for next year, however it is expected that Oliver Bearman will continue for another campaign as per the terms he signed when he joined in 2025.

But who will fill the second seat is less clear, with Esteban Ocon not seemingly guaranteed to keep his drive next year.

Outlining the criteria that Haas is looking for, Komatsu insisted that speed is the primary factor.

“I've always said, we take drivers by performance, so performance comes absolutely first,” he told media including RacingNews365. 

“If two drivers have got equal performance, affiliations or the packages they've got matter. 

“But we never take somebody who is three-tenths slower, but who has got affiliations with Toyota or Ferrari, or got 5 million more. 

“We're not going to do that, so it's all about performance first.”

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Haas not expecting F1 driver decision soon

Haas is only one of the few teams that have not yet formalised their line-up for next year.

But Komatsu hinted that an announcement will not come in the very near future.

When asked when he expects to reach a decision, Komatsu said: “I don't know, not next week, shall I say.”

Among those who are believed to be in contention for the drive are reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and current F2 title protagonist Rafael Camara.

Recent reports have also suggested that former Alpine driver Jack Doohan is also under consideration, having joined Haas in a reserve role this year.

Komatsu confirmed that Haas has multiple options available to it, highlighting: “We're in a very fortunate situation. 

“There are so many drivers interested in our seat. Five [drivers].”