Ocon experience 'vital' to 'hungry' Haas driver pairing - Komatsu

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has revealed that Esteban Ocon's experience was "vital" to the Frenchman being offered a multi-year contract. 

It was announced ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix that Ocon will join Haas next season and partner rookie Oliver Bearman, a pairing Komatsu describes as "hungry" and "dynamic".

Ocon is known well by Komatsu, with the Haas boss having been the Alpine driver's race engineer for his first F1 test with Lotus back in 2014. 

Despite being just 27 years old, Ocon is already a three-time F1 podium finisher and a race winner, with Komatsu expecting his experience to boost the American outfit next year. 

“I’m delighted we’ve secured Esteban Ocon’s services for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team,” stated Komatsu. "I’ve obviously been aware of his talents for a long time and our personal history dates back to Esteban’s maiden run in a Formula 1 car – I was his race engineer that day with Lotus. 

"He displayed his talents back then coming off the back of strong performances in the junior categories – he’d just won the 2014 European Formula 3 Championship. Esteban’s gone on to become an established talent in Formula 1 and of course a grand prix winner. 

"The experience he brings, not just from his own talent base but also from working for a manufacturer team, will be advantageous to us in our growth as an organisation. 

"It was vital we had a driver with experience in beside Oliver Bearman next year, but Esteban’s only 27 – he’s still young with a lot to prove as well. I think we have a hungry, dynamic driver pairing and I look forward to welcoming Esteban into MoneyGram Haas F1 Team for 2025.”

Ocon signing a multi-year deal ensures that he will enter the new power unit regulations in 2026 with Haas.

The French driver will be the first race winner to compete for Haas, who are yet to claim an F1 podium since joining the championship in 2016. 

Having a driver with experience of finishing on the rostrum was part of team owner Gene Haas' criteria in his pursuit of a team-mate for Bearman, with Ocon fitting the bill. 

“It was important to me that we have a driver with a known pedigree in Formula 1, and as a grand prix winner, Esteban undoubtedly fits that brief," said Haas. 

"Esteban’s proved himself in the teams he’s raced for as someone who’s continually in the mix and scoring points – it’s that continuity we’re keen to capitalise on as we look for increased performance gains on-track. 

"We have a blend of youth and experience in our future driver line-up and I’m excited to see the results.”