As Formula 1 prepares to flip the switch on its most radical set of rules in decades, Haas’ Esteban Ocon has a stark warning for his peers: the overhauled hybrid engines won’t just change the car – they’ll force drivers to “forget everything that we've learned since go-karts on how to go fast.”
With active aerodynamics, a heavier electric component, and a reshaped V6 turbo hybrid, the 2026 regulations are set to challenge everything drivers thought they knew.
After sampling the Haas VF-26 in the simulator, Ocon says the key to unlocking speed won’t just be horsepower – it’ll be a mental reboot.
Learning a New Driving Language
“It’s a very particular way of driving the car. There's going to be a lot more management on the engine side and on the hybrid side,” Ocon explained as Haas unveiled its 2026 contender and livery.
“The car itself felt pretty good. The balance was decent, although of course it was our first taste in the simulator, so we need to see how it is in reality, but the level of grip was good.
“Clearly, the biggest change is from the engine side, and that's going to be the key for us to be prepared. It's an exciting challenge, and it's a different way of driving compared to before.
“I think we can forget everything that we've learned since go-karts on how to go fast, but it will be interesting to learn a new driving style and hopefully find speed with it.”
For Ocon, this isn’t entirely unfamiliar territory. He first tested a Formula 1 car in 2012, back when V8s still ruled the grid, and then transitioned into hybrids – a shift that demanded quick adaptation.
“This is definitely the biggest rule change I’ve ever faced,” he said.
“The first time I drove a Formula 1 car was in the V8 era, then we went to a hybrid system, where I drove one day in Valencia back then and went to Abu Dhabi for FP1.
“It was probably a similar change to what we'll face now, but as I said, we need to forget everything that has happened before.
“We need to learn everything new again, so I think the experience helps to adapt quickly, but we need to adapt everything.
“All of our senses, how we feel, we’ll need to think a lot more while driving about what to do, to go quicker. It’s exciting, and it’s going to be interesting.”
A Shifting Midfield and a Long Season Ahead
Ocon also expects the 2026 season to be unpredictable. With rapid development anticipated, the pecking order could look very different from one race to the next.
“I'd say by the third or fourth race we’ll have some indication, but it won’t be the final pecking order because there's going to be a lot of development, especially in this first year,” he said.
“It’s definitely worth taking all the points you can as early as you can, but even if we’re not exactly where we want to be, there are still things to grab in the middle of the season where lots of teams will be bringing updates.”
For Ocon, the message is clear: 2026 will demand more than speed – it will require a mental reset, adaptability, and the ability to master a radically new way of driving.
And with shakedown testing in Barcelona and official sessions in Bahrain looming, the next chapter of F1 promises to be as unpredictable as it is electrifying.
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