Bearman hails Haas ‘night and day’ Monza upgrade

Haas arrived at Monza needing a significant jolt, and Oliver Bearman believes the team may have found exactly that with its biggest upgrade package of the 2026 Formula 1 season. The heavily revised VF-26 immediately looked more competitive on Friday, with Bearman eighth in FP2 and, more importantly, convinced that the new chassis and bodywork have delivered a substantial step forward.

Why it matters:

Haas has slipped to seventh in the constructors' standings after six consecutive races without scoring, and Bearman hasn't added to his points tally since Canada in May. This upgrade is a critical attempt to reverse that slide and rejoin the midfield fight. After a frustrating run, the team needed tangible signs of progress — and Friday delivered.

The details:

• Bearman called it the team's best Friday since March or April, citing a "night and day" difference in the car's feel.
• He acknowledged a tow helped his headline lap time, but the underlying confidence is real: "The car is more predictable," he said.
• That stability is especially valuable at Monza, where low-downforce corners demand precision despite less downforce than at Zandvoort.
• Ocon's struggles: Esteban Ocon finished only 18th in FP2 after traffic and a rear-right corner issue. He also lacked Ferrari's upgraded power unit.
• Team view: Head of Car Engineering Hoagy Nidd believes Ocon's lack of pace was circumstantial, not representative of the new package.
• Bearman praised the team's execution, saying he was "really proud" of everyone for delivering when it mattered.

What's next:

The real proof will come in qualifying and the race, but for the first time in weeks, Haas has tangible momentum. Bearman's verdict suggests the VF-26 may finally be ready to fight its way back into the midfield.