Haas explains why Bearman gets upgraded Ferrari engine for Monza over Ocon

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has explained why Oliver Bearman will use Ferrari's new ADUO-boosted engine at the Italian Grand Prix while Esteban Ocon waits. With Monza's high-speed layout putting a premium on power, the team decided it could not leave the upgrade unused in the garage. The call was also shaped by a fairness system based on how earlier upgrades were distributed between the two drivers.

Why it matters:

Customer teams are entitled to access a works-team engine upgrade, but Ferrari supplied only the minimum number of units for Monza. That forced Haas to make a choice. The decision affects more than performance: it tests the team's transparency and the relationship between two drivers competing for results.

The details:

• When Ferrari introduced its previous ADUO-upgraded engine in Barcelona, Haas waited until both Bearman and Ocon could use it.
• This time, Monza is so power-sensitive that Komatsu said it would be "a shame" to have the performance sitting in the garage.
• Komatsu explained Ferrari is "pushing like hell" to maximize engine performance, but the manufacturer produced only enough units to satisfy the regulation.
• The choice of Bearman came down to prior upgrades: Ocon received the brake upgrade and the power steering upgrade in Budapest because he struggled more with both. That made the latest engine upgrade Bearman's turn.
• Komatsu stressed there is no hidden agenda: "We operate as transparently as possible... this is the best for the team, and then this is the fairest way you can do it."

What's next:

Bearman will have the upgraded engine at Monza, where top-end speed is crucial. Ocon is likely to receive the new unit once Ferrari can supply more examples. Until then, Haas will keep balancing performance and fairness, knowing that "nothing is completely fair" in F1.