Oliver Bearman praises Haas's 'super impressive' reliability in Barcelona shakedown

Haas driver Oliver Bearman has lauded his team's "super impressive" reliability during the opening pre-season test in Barcelona, where the American squad completed nearly three race distances in a single session with minimal issues. This strong start is a significant achievement under the new 2026 technical regulations, which often cause initial disruption for smaller teams.

Why it matters:

For a midfield team like Haas, starting a major regulation cycle with robust reliability is a crucial foundation for development. It allows for maximum track time to gather data, understand the new car, and build a platform for performance gains, avoiding the costly setbacks that can define an entire season.

The details:

• Haas emerged as one of the most consistent teams in early running, with only Red Bull completing more laps over the first two days of testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
• Bearman highlighted the seamless transition from the team's 200km filming day at Fiorano to immediate, productive running in Spain.
• The team encountered a minor issue during testing, which Bearman noted took longer to resolve than it would have with the previous car. He attributed this to the complexity of the new power unit and procedures, stating it was a valuable learning experience.
• Bearman expressed enthusiasm about the driver's increased influence under the new rules, calling it a "great prospect" to have more impact on the car's development.

What's next:

With one of its three allocated test days remaining, Haas aims to continue its high-mileage, trouble-free running to deepen its understanding of the VF-26. Bearman confirmed the team has set high targets, viewing every lap as a critical learning opportunity to build a competitive package for the start of the 2026 season.