Esteban Ocon: Tire degradation is less than in Barcelona.

      On Friday in Spielberg, the Haas team worked with three drivers. Oliver Berman completed both practice sessions, while Rio Hirakawa replaced Esteban Ocon in the first free practice session. For Hirakawa, this was his first experience driving the 2026 car during an official race weekend.

      Oliver Berman (13th): "Overall, the day was positive. I'm happy with the progress, and the car handled well. After Barcelona, there were a few things to focus on. I think we managed to find the optimal car settings. The gaps are minimal as usual, so we need to take the next step forward tomorrow. I'm quite satisfied with how Friday went."

      Esteban Ocon (15th): "In the first practice, I gave my car to Rio, so I was able to gather more information. It seems that tire degradation is less than in Barcelona. This is positive, considering the heat. We have a clear understanding of the direction to take tomorrow and what needs to be improved, so we'll try to do that. It's still early to say where we stand, but we'll do everything we can."

      Rio Hirakawa (19th in the first session): "Today was my first time driving the VF-26, so I want to say a big thank you to the Haas team and Toyota Gazoo Racing for this opportunity. The session was intense; we conducted several tests, and everything went well. I wasn't able to complete a full fast lap due to time constraints, but I was able to provide the team with feedback that they can use throughout the race weekend."