Haas F1’s Bold Strategy Earns Double Points at Bahrain Grand Prix

Haas F1 Team pulled off one of the surprises of the 2025 Formula 1 season so far, converting an aggressive strategy into a double-points finish at the Bahrain Grand Prix, with Esteban Ocon finishing eighth and rookie Oliver Bearman grabbing the final point in 10th.

Despite setbacks in qualifying—Ocon crashing out in Q2 to start 14th, and Bearman starting last after struggling for grip—the American team executed a bold race plan that catapulted them into the top 10 by the checkered flag.

“We just have to do it, that’s all,” said an emotional Ayao Komatsu, Haas team principal. “It was a whole team effort.”

Ocon’s Undercut Pays Off Early

Ocon pitted as early as lap 8, switching to medium tyres in a classic undercut that leapfrogged him past rivals including Jack Doohan, Yuki Tsunoda, and even world champion Max Verstappen, who was struggling on hard tyres.

Though the Frenchman would need to nurse hard tyres for the final 29 laps following a second stop on lap 27, he managed to hold on for eighth place—even if he eventually had to concede position to a recovering Verstappen.

“With Esteban, the issue was we were on the hard tyre,” Komatsu explained. “That was going to be a difficult one, but we couldn’t pit under that safety car—no way. So we just had to make it work.”

Bearman Charges From P20 to Points

In the second Haas, Oliver Bearman made a strong start, gaining five positions on the opening lap to run 15th. He later overtook veteran Fernando Alonso and capitalized on the lap-32 safety car by switching to soft tyres for a final charge.

Bearman surged past the struggling Carlos Sainz and Jack Doohan, grabbing 10th place and scoring a point—his third consecutive race weekend in the points after a difficult debut in Australia.

“Ollie scoring points from P20 was amazing. I’m speechless,” said Komatsu.
“He’s not just talented—it’s the work ethic. He’s an amazing guy to be around.”

Haas Now Fifth in Constructors’ Standings

With both cars in the points, Haas leapfrogged up the standings to fifth in the Constructors' Championship with 20 points, exceeding preseason expectations for the team.

Komatsu acknowledged the team's aerodynamic issues seen earlier in Melbourne hadn’t completely disappeared but were more manageable in Bahrain.

“We didn’t see the fundamental aero issue here like we did in pre-season testing,” he said.
“To be fighting against Mercedes and Red Bull, that’s just amazing. I’m still soaking it in.”

While questions remain over the VF-25’s aerodynamic consistency across tracks, Bahrain proved Haas can punch well above its weight with the right calls and strong driver performances. With momentum building, the midfield battle just got even more interesting.

Stay tuned to The Horizons Times for more Formula 1 analysis, team insights, and exclusive race coverage throughout the 2025 season.