Since the start of the 2026 Formula 1 season, Haas has emerged as the true surprise of the midfield. The American team has secured fourth place in the standings, even surpassing giants like Red Bull. With young driver Oliver Bearman and a car that appears perfectly tuned, Haas is making a notable entrance under the new regulations.
An Unexpected Dynamic
During preseason testing, observers focused on last year’s top four teams: McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari. The gap to the rest of the midfield seemed insurmountable. However, after the first two races of the season, Haas made a stunning entry, positioning itself as the best team in the midfield with impressive performances in Melbourne and Shanghai.
The results speak for themselves: a seventh place in Australia followed by a fifth in China for Bearman. He even outpaced Max Verstappen before the world champion’s retirement, a sign that the team is holding its own despite the race’s challenges.
Haas, More Ready Than Ever
The comparison with Ferrari is inevitable. Both teams appear to have developed highly competitive chassis, favoring cornering speed to offset the engine advantage of teams like Mercedes. In this context, Haas stands out for its ability to fully exploit its chassis.
Max Verstappen and Oliver Bearman battling during the Chinese GP.
Mercedes has superior know-how that allows it to gain every millisecond, but Haas has managed to leverage a competitive chassis despite limited resources. The technical team led by Andrea De Zordo deserves praise for designing the VF-26, a car that combines reliability and performance from its first laps on track.
Throughout testing, the VF-26 proved particularly solid, accumulating mileage and ranking as the second car with the most laps during the three practice sessions, just behind Mercedes. This robustness allows Haas to focus on optimizing energy and tire management during races.
Better in Race than Qualifying
In China, where tire management is crucial, Bearman skillfully navigated through traffic to secure a commendable fifth place. Without the incident between Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto, Haas could have placed both cars in the points. This start to the year echoes that of 2022, when Haas also surprised the midfield but struggled to maintain its level afterward.
The collision between Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto at the Chinese GP.
This time, however, the team seems better equipped to face challenges. The development and improvements made over the seasons are paying off. With a solid foundation built during the winter, Haas has all the tools to compete with its direct rivals throughout the season.
A Promising Future
As Ferrari seeks to extract more power from its engine, Haas’s challenge will be to maintain its momentum in terms of upgrades. At the start of a new technical cycle, the pace of development will be crucial to remain competitive against the latest innovations from other teams. The current dynamic gives a real advantage to the American team.
Excellent tire management and the sustained pace observed in races are factors that could allow Haas to continue this trajectory. If the team can capitalize on its early successes and develop its VF-26 throughout the season, it could well establish itself firmly in the upper midfield.
In Summary
- Haas positions itself as the surprise of the start of the 2026 season.
- Oliver Bearman shines with solid performances.
- A competitive chassis compensates for a relative lack of resources.
- Tire management plays a key role in their results.
- The team must maintain its development pace to stay competitive.
