Esteban Ocon didn’t hold back after a frustrating Belgian Grand Prix saw him tumble down the order, citing key strategic errors from Haas that left him 15th at the chequered flag and well outside the points.
The Frenchman had started just outside the top 10 in 11th, buoyed by his team’s promising double-points finish in Saturday’s Sprint event, but ended the day lamenting what he called “two very crucial decisions” that wrecked his race.
After a lengthy delay due to rain inundating Spa-Francorchamps, all teams began the race on Pirelli’s Intermediate tyre. But while most of the grid swapped to slicks around Lap 11, Haas kept Ocon out until Lap 13 – a move that cost him dearly in track position.
“I think there are two very crucial decisions that we didn’t do in the right way,” Ocon said after the race.
“The first one obviously was boxing two laps too late. We need to review as a team because we had the pace today to score with both cars.
“Once we got going and everything was normal, the pace was there. So, it’s a big shame.”
Used Tyres Compound Haas’ Woes
In a race of slim margins, Ocon was further frustrated by the team’s decision to fit his car with used Mediums, even though a brand-new set was available in the garage.
©Haas
“And then the other thing was boxing onto a used set of tyres while we had a new one in the truck ready for us,” he continued.
“So, I did basically my 35 laps on a used set of tyres while we had a new set of Mediums ready for us in the race. So, yeah, that’s a big and costly mistake.”
This decision left Ocon struggling to maintain pace in a race where tyre management was critical due to the drying track conditions.
“We need to review these last two races because I feel, you know, when it’s wet we don’t put things together,” he said.
Team-Wide Strategic Missteps
Ocon’s teammate, Oliver Bearman, also suffered from a mistimed pit stop, pitting on Lap 12 – one lap later than optimal.
“The team boxed him [Bearman] one lap too late and they boxed me two laps too late in that sense,” Ocon noted.
“We should have both been on the earlier side basically. And if we would have done that, I think today would have been a different story. So, yeah.”
Bearman, running a higher downforce setup in anticipation of rain, briefly held a points-paying position but was ultimately undone by the late pit call and a power unit issue.
“Incredibly frustrating, I think the main frustration, you know, we did box a lot too late from the Intermediates to the Slicks and got undercut by a few guys, but it happens, you know, it’s one of those where it’s really difficult to judge,” Bearman said.
He added that a mid-race engine problem further derailed his efforts.
“Honestly, from my side, I didn’t really give much feedback also on the track because I was nursing a problem with the engine,” he said.
“I was struggling with my battery charge and everything. Then after the stops, I was in P10 just behind Hulkenberg and then coming out of the last corner, I had no power, the engine went to limbo and I lost three spots to Gasly, to Alonso, to Yuki as well.
“Then I spent the whole race just pissed off and trying to catch it back, but it’s impossible to overtake here.”
Missed Opportunity in Constructors’ Fight
The strategic errors were particularly painful for Haas, which sits ninth in the Constructors’ Championship, just eight points behind Sauber in sixth.
Bearman’s 11th-place finish, just outside the points behind Gasly’s 10th, underscored the team’s potential to score with both cars had strategy been executed effectively.
Ocon emphasized the need for internal review.
“So, we will review everything, you know, if I need to give more information in the future,” he suggested.
“But they have a very clear process on who takes decisions and what into the team. And, you know, I believe that I did what I needed to do.”
As Haas reflects on a weekend of missed opportunities, Ocon’s frank remarks highlight the urgency for improved decision-making to capitalize on the VF-25’s pace in F1’s tightly contested midfield battle.
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