P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The Haas F1 team is continuing to grow with a fresh driver line-up this year – but it was a former driver who helped pave the way for greater team harmony.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has praised Nico Hulkenberg for helping build a foundation of trust within the team. Hulkenberg joined Haas in 2023 after a period on the sidelines and spent two seasons with the American squad before joining Stake for the 2025 campaign. Haas entered the current term with a fully revised line-up as it brought in Esteban Ocon to partner rookie Oliver Bearman. The duo have scored 35 points in the opening 14 rounds, leaving it ninth place in the constructors’ championship. Ocon is known to have endured friction with team-mates in the past, however, the partnership with Bearman has gone relatively smoothly. Komatsu highlighted a specific incident at the British Grand Prix when the duo collided in wet weather conditions, but the situation was quickly resolved. In another instance during the Belgian Grand Prix, the harmonious working relationship between Ocon and Bearman was evident as they followed team orders without issue.
