Formula 1 Australian GP
Esteban Ocon on Haas performance: "Quite unexpected to be where we are"
Esteban Ocon admits surprise at Haas' lack of pace in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix as the team struggles with a tough season opener.
Alex Harrington
Edited: Mar 19, 2025, 2:26 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
Following a difficult 2025 Australian Grand Prix that saw both Haas cars struggle for pace, French driver Esteban Ocon has admitted his surprise at the American team's lack of performance.
“It was worth trying as in the end we didn’t lose any time, we just optimised what we had, and I think it is really the performance we missed out on this race," he said on his late change to slicks after a stretch of rain racing on intermediates.
“If we had a little bit more we could have been in the mix for points. The cars were fighting just in front and I was there. There was two or three positions for me to get inside the top 10 but I just couldn’t keep up unfortunately.
“That’s why we need to give it a good look as it is not what we’ve seen, so it is quite unexpected to be where we are in this weekend. I’m sure we will figure out things to turn it around in the next round.”
The American outfit's 2025 campaign got off to a rocky start with Ocon qualifying 19th and his team-mate Ollie Bearman lining up at the very back of the grid. Bearman's weekend was particularly difficult as he started his first full-time season in the sport. He crashed during FP1, leaving his car in a state of repair over FP2, and gearbox issues in FP3 ruined what was left of his practice.
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
During the race, both drivers exhibited poor pace, unlike last year when the team made strong progress finishing seventh in the constructors' standings. For Ocon, who joined Haas after an exit from Alpine, this won't be the level of performance he was expecting.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu now faces the challenge of identifying the team's deficit. Only earlier this year did Komatsu confirm his interest in flexi-wings, but this will likely be put on hold after the change in regulations. With an all-new driver lineup on top of this, the learning curve is going to be steep.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Zak Brown sets the record straight on Christian Horner rivalry
Next article Ralf Schumacher defends Isack Hadjar after Australia misery: "Harshness of Dr Marko"
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Alex Harrington
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Singapore GP
Lando Norris casts doubt on Singapore GP sprint excitement: "I don't think it is"
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
Formula 1
Formula 1
Bahrain GP in Malaysia
Nike could return to Formula 1 for first time since Michael Schumacher era
Report: Sergio Perez's management in Williams talks as Carlos Sainz's future remains unclear
Formula 1
Formula 1
Report: Sergio Perez's management in Williams talks as Carlos Sainz's future remains unclear
More from
Esteban Ocon
Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Fred Vasseur personally contributed $1m to Esteban Ocon’s first F1 drive
Ayao Komatsu: Esteban Ocon axing ‘surprised everybody at Haas’
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Ayao Komatsu: Esteban Ocon axing ‘surprised everybody at Haas’
More from
Haas F1 Team
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Haas justifies picking Rafael Camara over Ryo Hirakawa for F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
Haas justifies picking Rafael Camara over Ryo Hirakawa for F1 Brazilian GP
Latest news
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
2 h
Yamaha may not be competitive immediately in MotoGP's 850cc era, says Pramac
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
MotoGP
Qatar GP
You Ask The Questions: Jack Miller
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
6 h
Why the anticlimactic WEC title showdown was the worst-case scenario
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe