After a dismal 2023 season, Haas has rebuilt itself in the thick of Formula 1's midfield. Under the astute Ayao Komatsu, who has been at Haas since its foundation, the team has become a recognizably more efficient outfit, responds faster to setbacks—a remedy of a prior weakness—and has finished seventh and eighth in the Constructors' Championship—on both occasions within sight of sixth.
Despite methodically expanding its headcount across the past two years, Haas remains Formula 1's smallest operation now facing the challenge of the new-for-2026 regulations; while there is no carryover from the VF-25, the effective development of that car, and the lessons learned, can be applied into 2026. The team has an unchanged driver lineup of Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon, with Ferrari protégé Bearman having a difficult start to his first full-time campaign but coming on strongly across the second half of the year.
The more experienced Ocon had a stuttering campaign, scoring three points less than Bearman, amid struggles with some of the limitations of the VF-25, most prominently the brakes. Haas F1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has expressed optimism about the team's prospects in 2026, citing progress made over the last couple of years and the potential for growth through collaboration with Toyota, which is now known as TGR Haas F1 Team.
Haas faces a significant challenge in adapting to the new regulations, but its small size may actually be an advantage in terms of agility and ability to respond quickly. With Ayao Komatsu at the helm, the team has shown significant improvement over the past couple of years, and with the support of Toyota, they have the potential to make a strong impact in 2026.
