Komatsu and Vasseur hail Bearman’s ‘fantastic’ Mexico GP heroics

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Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu is running out of superlatives for Oliver Bearman after the 19-year-old Briton delivered the American squad’s joint-best Formula 1 finish in Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix.

The fourth-place heroics – matching Romain Grosjean’s 2018 Austrian GP result – catapulted Bearman to 13th in the drivers’ standings, leapfrogging teammate Esteban Ocon, while Haas vaulted to eighth in the constructors’ table, just 10 points shy of sixth-placed Racing Bulls with four races left.

Bearman diced wheel-to-wheel with Max Verstappen, then stonewalled title contender Oscar Piastri in the closing laps, turning a midfield car into a giant-killer at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.

A Flawless Performance

“We always saw huge talent, and every single time, we are learning and improving, and since Singapore, he has been putting weekends together,” Komatsu beamed.

“Austin, there were a couple of things in the Sprint race, but other than that, he was mega. But here, what can I say? He hasn’t put a foot wrong. It’s just amazing.”

Post-pit stops, Bearman found himself sandwiched between George Russell’s Mercedes and Piastri’s McLaren.

“After the pit stops, we were fighting against Russell and Piastri – a Mercedes and McLaren. What a privilege to fight those guys. And just to hold him, what a fantastic job,” Komatsu added.

“We have always been there this season, fighting and never had a big result. What a team effort!

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“Ollie drove fantastic and gave us completely the right information, the strategy guys did an amazing job – race engineer, performance engineer, everyone gave the right information to the driver communicating, so it was just a huge team effort, and finally, we managed to get a big result.

“Then to get both drivers in the points, it’s just amazing.”

Ocon’s ninth place sealed a double-points haul, Haas’s first since the 2022 Austrian GP.

Vasseur: ‘I was thinking about a podium’

Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, whose Scuderia counted Bearman as reserve in 2024, was equally effusive.

“At one stage, I was thinking about a podium for him,” the Frenchman said. “No, he did very well. But if you have a look from the beginning of the season, he's doing well.

“Quite often, he had a small issue in the weekend, either in quali or in the race. And this weekend, he put everything together. He made zero mistakes and he's paying off.

“It's good also for the team to have two cars up into the points. Congratulations to Ayao and to Ollie.”

Bearman’s Mexico masterclass – his third straight points finish – proves the rookie is no flash in the pan. For Haas, the podium dream lives on.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.