P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Esteban Ocon has said the decision to join Haas next season was “very straightforward” and a “no brainer” given its recent uptick in performance.
Esteban Ocon has decided to switch to Haas for the 2025 F1 season, citing the team’s improved performance as a significant factor in his choice. After five years with Alpine, the French driver will part ways with the Enstone-based team at the end of the current campaign. His relationship with Alpine soured after an incident with teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco, leading Ocon to seek new opportunities. Ocon’s conversations with Haas began before the Monaco Grand Prix, and the team’s new principal, Ayao Komatsu, who previously worked with Ocon at Lotus, played a crucial role in the decision-making process. Ocon expressed his satisfaction with joining Haas and looks forward to partnering with rookie Oliver Bearman in what Komatsu describes as a “hungry, dynamic driver pairing.” While Ocon had been associated with other teams, such as Stake Racing, his move to Haas marks a significant step in his career, away from the Mercedes junior program where he was once seen as a potential successor to Lewis Hamilton.
