Esteban Ocon was left disappointed after the Belgian Grand Prix, criticizing Haas for two major strategic errors that derailed what could have been a promising result. Despite showing strong pace in Saturday’s Sprint race, both Ocon and his teammate Oliver Bearman failed to score on Sunday. Ocon, who started 11th, was one of the last drivers to switch to slick tyres as the track dried—costing him multiple positions.
Ocon’s frustration deepened when Haas fitted his car with used medium tyres that were already seven laps old, even though a fresh set was available. He described the race strategy as “completely wrong,” noting that staying on intermediate tyres for too long and then using degraded slicks severely compromised his performance. The Frenchman ultimately finished 15th, while many of Haas’s direct rivals in the midfield managed to score points.
Bearman, running a higher downforce setup suited for the wet, also missed out on points. He initially had a promising position but suffered from a persistent engine issue that cost him several positions and valuable pace. The rookie still managed an 11th-place finish—his fourth consecutive race ending in that position. He believed that without the engine trouble, he would have secured a top-ten result.
Despite the missed opportunity, Bearman found encouragement in the team’s progress, particularly with the effectiveness of recent upgrades. He pointed out that the car’s performance felt strong throughout the weekend and that the team showed signs of real improvement. Bearman also praised Haas’s qualifying form, especially both cars making it into Sprint Qualifying 3, indicating better one-lap pace than earlier in the season.
While Haas failed to deliver points in the Grand Prix, the drivers are hopeful heading into the next round in Hungary. Bearman expressed optimism that the upcoming track would suit the car well and that lessons learned from Spa will help the team avoid similar mistakes. Ocon, however, stressed the need for the team to work more cohesively to avoid costly errors that undo all their progress.
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