Komatsu reveals why Haas is in ‘no rush’ over 2027 line-up

Haas may have already started looking beyond its current driver pairing for 2027, but team principal Ayao Komatsu is making one thing clear: there will be no hurried decision on who gets the call for next year’s campaign.

With both Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon out of contract at the end of this season, the American outfit has an important choice to make. Bearman’s progress has strengthened the case for continuity, while Ocon’s difficult campaign alongside his younger teammate has inevitably cast his future into doubt.

Yet as the driver market begins to take shape, Komatsu appears content to let the situation develop rather than force the issue.

“We’re not in any rush," Komatsu told the media over the Dutch Grand Prix weekend when asked about the futures of his drivers.

That measured stance is particularly interesting given what Haas has been doing away from the spotlight.

Haas keeps its options open

This week, the team completed a three-day TPC test at Portimao, putting three drivers through their paces in its 2025-spec VF-25.

Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa was joined by reigning FIA Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and Ferrari junior Rafael Camara as Haas continues to “test and appraise” potential talent.

Hirakawa already has six FP1 appearances under his belt, while Fornaroli had previously tested for Haas in June. Camara, meanwhile, brings the added intrigue of being a Ferrari junior and is currently fighting for the F2 title after two victories this season.

None of that necessarily points towards a change in Haas’ 2027 line-up – but it does suggest the team is doing its homework.

For now, however, Komatsu insists the priority remains extracting everything possible from the drivers already occupying his seats.

“We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them. They’ve got the tough challenge, right?

“You know what they’re capable of. You know, Ollie has shown it repeatedly. Esteban, when he is happy with the car, you know what he can do.

“So we need to really just focus on providing them with the best possible car, best setup adaptation and get the best out of them. And then both of our drivers are fully focused.”

That approach also buys Haas valuable time. Rather than allowing contract uncertainty to become a distraction, Komatsu appears determined to judge Bearman and Ocon on what they produce during a season in which the team itself is facing an enormous technical challenge.

A driver decision shaped by a bigger battle

Haas began 2026 impressively, punching above its weight during the opening phase of Formula 1’s sweeping new regulations. But as the development race intensified, the realities of being the smallest team on the grid began to bite.

“This is the biggest regulation change ever.

“So us being the smallest team, we expect that we’re going to really be struggling to keep up with the other big boys in the development race.

“We started the season extremely well, much better than anyone can think of, and then from that moment I think that’s the reality.

“With our constraints, we’re trying to develop the car as fast as possible, but the other guys are putting performance on the car faster than us. That’s the reality."

That context could prove crucial when Haas eventually evaluates its drivers. A difficult result sheet does not necessarily tell the whole story when the machinery underneath them is struggling to keep pace.

‘Nothing against the guys’

Komatsu is adamant that his staff and drivers cannot be blamed for the team’s decline.

“Then, to be fair, honestly, it’s nothing against the guys in the team,” the Japanese engineer said.

“They’re doing a fantastic job, they’re working together, and then for us to have a chance to keep up with the other guys, everything has to be perfect, right? Everything. In life, that’s not something you can ask for all the time.

“I really do think I need to provide them with a better environment, facilitate it so that they can show what they’re capable of. I’m sure of that. But the good thing is those tough times show the character, right? And then there’s no blame culture.

“We looked at the problem: what’s the issue, where are we lacking downforce, why the drivability is not great, what are the drivers struggling with? We’re all on the same page, trying to fix the issue, trying to put performance on the car. But of course, again, that takes time.

“Lots of things we’re putting in place will take time for it to materialize, but we’ve just got to believe in ourselves, the teamwork, support each other, and we’ll get through it like we did the last two years," Komatsu concluded.

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For now, then, the 2027 Haas line-up remains an open question.

Bearman has plenty of reasons to feel secure, while Ocon still has an opportunity to change the narrative. And with Fornaroli, Camara and Hirakawa now having added mileage to their Haas CVs, the team is quietly gathering information.

Komatsu may not be in a rush. But with the driver market beginning to stir, Haas is clearly making sure it has plenty of answers before it finally decides which questions need answering.

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