After a disappointing qualifying session, Esteban Ocon bounced back to secure a top 10 finish at the F1 Bahrain GP, contributing to a second double points finish of the season for Haas.
From P14 to the points
Following a crash in Q2 that left him without a time on the board, Esteban Ocon lined up P14 on the grid, promoted by Nico Hülkenberg’s lap deletion for track limits. Despite the setback, the Frenchman got off the line well and quickly moved into contention, finding himself just outside the points early on.
His race was shaped by a sharp first stint and strategic brilliance from Haas as they pulled off an undercut. By capitalizing on pit stop timing and race pace, Ocon soon broke into the Top 10, running close to former teammate Pierre Gasly and managing tyre wear effectively throughout, evening holding off Max Verstappen throughout the second stint.
“Great strategy, we managed to be in the points straight away with our first stop, using the car pace,” said Ocon. “We’ve maximised the result. There was nothing more we could have done with the performance we had today.”
Bearman shines, Haas celebrates
Ocon wasn’t the only Haas driver delivering. Teammate Ollie Bearman, starting last on the grid, benefited from a well-timed Safety Car and delivered another stellar drive, crossing the line inside the points alongside Ocon.
“Double points finish for the team, we’re fifth in the Constructors’. Mega recovery from yesterday—everyone’s happy,” Ocon said post-race.
Photo Credit: MoneyGram Haas F1 Team
A valuable lesson in consistency
While satisfied with the final result, Ocon emphasised the importance of consistency and learning from the mistakes that compromised his qualifying. The 2021 Hungarian GP winner had a sizeable shunt after losing the car in turn 2.
The result yesterday moved Haas ahead of Williams for P5 in the F1 Constructors’ Championship after four rounds.
“I let the team down yesterday (in qualifying). I was super sad with my performance,” he admitted. “We need to always be using the car in the right window… we need to stay on our toes because the others won’t mess around.”
He acknowledged the improvements made to the car, particularly in high-speed sections—a weak point last season—but said there’s still work to do.
Looking ahead
The result marks a positive step in Haas’s 2025 campaign. With Ocon and Bearman showing strong form, especially in recovery drives, the team has consolidated its position in the midfield battle.
“We go again next week,” Ocon concluded. “We’ve completely reset.”
