Bearman and Ocon acknowledge that Haas has lagged behind.

      Oliver Bearman acknowledges that Haas has fallen behind in the development race of Formula 1, as competitors are advancing more quickly under the relatively new 2026 regulations. After an encouraging start to the season, Haas now finds itself battling with Williams at the rear of the midfield.

      "Last weekend, we optimized everything and ended up being the eighth best team," Bearman stated to Ekstra Bladet at Silverstone. "That’s hard to accept."

      The British driver attributes the issue to competitors accelerating their development. "We haven’t introduced as much performance to the car as those around us, and that became evident last weekend," he said. "We’ve only implemented one significant upgrade, while others have made much greater strides. We are also facing some additional challenges that others don’t, making it tough for us."

      In an interview with Auto Hebdo, Bearman conceded that Haas’ latest rear wing is insufficient. "We have a new rear wing that appears to be performing as we anticipated, which is positive, but I honestly believe it's too little, too late," he remarked. "It looks like all our competitors have progressed more. We don’t have significant upgrades planned until the summer break, so we must work diligently in the upcoming races."

      Bearman added that the swift pace of development under the new regulations has exacerbated the situation. "Being only six months in, every upgrade can greatly impact your performance. If you make just one while others make three, it’s natural for them to overtake you."

      Teammate Esteban Ocon is now hopeful for Haas’ next major upgrade package. "Red Bull was all around us in Japan," the Frenchman noted. "I was racing Max and finished two laps behind him in Austria. They've improved significantly. We need to make some steps forward as well, and I’m confident that’s what the team is aiming for."

      Meanwhile, with Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli increasingly rumored to be in contention for Ocon’s seat in 2027, McLaren CEO Zak Brown acknowledged that the Italian has a legitimate shot at reaching Formula 1. "I think there are some possibilities," Brown said when asked about Fornaroli’s chances for next year’s grid. "He’s an outstanding talent. Hopefully, he’ll land an F1 seat. I believe he is deserving of a place in F1."