In a strategic move to enhance its competitiveness, MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has signed French driver Esteban Ocon on a multi-year contract starting with the 2025 FIA Formula 1 World Championship. Ocon, a 27-year-old Grand Prix winner, will partner with British rookie Oliver Bearman, marking a significant shift in Haas’s driver lineup.
Team Principal Ayao Komatsu expressed enthusiasm about Ocon’s addition, highlighting the value of his experience from a manufacturer team. Komatsu stated, “The experience he brings… will be advantageous to us in our growth as an organization.” He also emphasized the importance of pairing the seasoned Ocon with the young Bearman, aiming for a “hungry, dynamic driver pairing.”
Ocon’s decision to join Haas follows his departure from Alpine, where he achieved a notable victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. Reflecting on his move, Ocon remarked, “I’ll be joining a very ambitious racing team, whose spirit, work ethic, and undeniable upward trajectory has really impressed me.” He expressed eagerness to contribute to Haas’s future plans and targets.
This signing also reunites Ocon with Komatsu, who engineered his first Formula 1 test with Lotus in 2014. Their established rapport is anticipated to facilitate a seamless integration into the team.
Haas’s commitment to strengthening its team is further evidenced by the appointment of Laura Müller as Formula 1’s first female race engineer. Müller will collaborate closely with Ocon, aiming to maximize the car’s performance in the upcoming season.
As the 2025 season approaches, Haas’s strategic acquisitions reflect its ambition to ascend the competitive ranks in Formula 1.
