Oliver Bearman highlighted Haas’ remarkable showing during the Barcelona shakedown, praising the team’s speed and consistency as they prepare for the 2026 Formula 1 season. The American outfit impressed with their ability to complete nearly three race distances in a single testing session, positioning themselves just behind Red Bull in total laps completed.
This achievement is especially notable amid sweeping regulatory changes that many teams have found difficult to navigate. Haas’ endurance and pace in the early testing phase reveal a potential breakthrough for the team as they adapt to new rules and seek to improve their competitiveness.
Bearman Reflects on Team’s Progress and Ambitions
Following the second day of testing, Bearman expressed pride in the team’s work, noting the smooth execution of their program.
To be at the shakedown and to be at this test and do a whole day, we completed more than two race distances, closer to three, actually, with no major issues. It’s super, super impressive for our team.
His comments showcase the collective effort and determination within Haas to learn swiftly and build momentum.
Bearman also conveyed the importance of the moment for the team and himself, emphasizing their high aspirations.
Everybody should be really proud of that achievement. We’re setting our targets high. We want to continue to learn about this car.
He underscored his unique perspective on the current rule changes, stating the drivers’ increased ability to influence results.
This is my first time being in this situation with a regulation change where, as drivers, we can have so much impact on the end result. So it’s a great prospect,
Bearman said.
Managing Challenges Amid New Regulations and Testing Demands
Despite a minor setback during testing, Bearman retained a positive outlook.
It’s very early stages in this cycle of regulations, and we’ve had, up until now, very clean laps and very clean running,
he observed. The team’s rapid switch from Fiorano to Barcelona, completing their 200-kilometer participation limit and reaching the track only two days later, reflects their strong preparation.
He explained that the greater complexity of the 2026 power units means troubleshooting takes longer than with previous cars.
The problem would have taken maybe 30 minutes with last year’s car since everybody knew it so well; it took a lot longer just because there’s a few more intricate details,
Bearman added, highlighting the technical challenges the team must overcome.
Outlook for Haas and the 2026 Season
As the new season approaches, Haas’ performance at Barcelona has generated excitement among constructors, analysts, and fans. Their ability to execute a high number of laps and maintain reliability early on suggests they could be serious contenders amidst the evolving competitive landscape.
While uncertainties remain over how teams will sustain this pace throughout the season, Haas has demonstrated resilience and readiness. Oliver Bearman’s enthusiasm and the team’s disciplined approach position them well to capitalize on the regulatory reset, marking their shakedown showing as a promising start to what could be a breakthrough year.
