Ocon Anticipates Significant Gains from Haas's COTA Upgrade

Esteban Ocon is optimistic about the new upgrades Haas is introducing at the United States Grand Prix, hoping they will address current car issues and provide more grip. The team, fresh off a points finish in Singapore, aims to build on a positive upgrade trend, as seen with their Silverstone package, and score more consistently in front of their home crowd.

Why it matters:

Haas, the only American team on the grid, is at a crucial juncture. Consistent points finishes are vital for their standing in the constructors' championship and for demonstrating their capability to compete. A successful upgrade package at their home race in COTA would not only boost team morale but also validate their development strategy in a season where performance gains are increasingly hard to find.

The Details:

• Ocon's Expectations: Esteban Ocon, speaking to GPblog, believes the COTA upgrades will improve car balance and provide additional grip, addressing persistent issues with the VF-25.
• Positive Precedent: He drew parallels with the Silverstone upgrade package, which yielded positive results and was a step in the right direction.
• Team Optimism: Team Principal Ayao Komatsu has also expressed optimism regarding the updates, reinforcing the team's belief in their potential impact.
• Home Race Boost: Haas enters its home Grand Prix with renewed confidence after scoring points in Singapore, aiming to capitalize on the momentum.
• Technical Team's Effort: Ocon praised the Haas technical team, highlighting the difficulty of finding performance gains at this late stage of the current regulations.
  • He emphasized that consistent performance improvements are a testament to the team's dedication and ingenuity.

What's next:

The true test of these upgrades will come during the practice sessions and qualifying at COTA. If the updates perform as expected, Haas could see improved competitiveness and a stronger challenge for points. Resolving reliability and balance issues would be a significant step towards their goal of more frequent points finishes, especially with the home crowd's support.

• A positive showing in the US Grand Prix could set a stronger trajectory for the remainder of the season.
• The team will be looking to translate the 'great push' by the technical team into tangible results on track, aiming for a more frequent presence in the top ten.