Jack Doohan is set to replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, marking his Formula 1 debut earlier than planned. This move comes after discussions between Alpine and Ocon's management, allowing Ocon to prepare for his 2025 switch to Haas by participating in post-season testing. While no official decision has been announced, talks are ongoing, and both parties seem to agree on the benefits of the early transition.
Esteban Ocon is set to vacate his Alpine F1 seat before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, allowing Jack Doohan to make his debut. This decision is linked to Ocon's early release to join Haas for the 2025 season and participate in the Abu Dhabi test. Ocon's departure follows a season of tensions with Alpine, highlighted by performance disparities with teammate Pierre Gasly and a contentious incident in Monaco. Despite a strong finish in Brazil, Ocon's overall performance lagged behind Gasly, prompting Alpine to promote Doohan for the upcoming season.
Kevin Magnussen has avoided a race ban for the Canadian Grand Prix despite a high-speed collision on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix. Entering the event with 10 penalty points on his Super Licence, Magnussen was involved in an incident with Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, leading to a significant delay for barrier repairs. The stewards decided not to investigate further, sparing Magnussen from additional penalty points.
Gene Haas expresses embarrassment over Haas F1 Team's poor performance and attributes it to aero issues, while emphasizing the importance of their partnership with Ferrari. He explains the decision to replace team principal Guenther Steiner with Ayao Komatsu, citing the need for a different direction to improve the team's performance. Haas believes Komatsu's technical approach will benefit the team and prefers promoting from within rather than hiring outsiders due to his experience with Haas Automation.
Guenther Steiner has left his role as Team Principal of Haas F1 Team, with Ayao Komatsu being promoted to replace him. Steiner, who led the team since 2016, has been succeeded by Komatsu, who has been with the team since its debut. The decision comes after discussions between Steiner and owner Gene Haas, with the aim of improving the team's on-track performance. Komatsu, with over 20 years of experience in Formula 1, will focus on maximizing the team's potential through employee empowerment and structural process efficiency.
Haas F1 Team's director of engineering, Ayao Komatsu, expressed his admiration for rookie driver Oliver Bearman after his impressive performance during the Mexican Grand Prix practice session. Komatsu praised Bearman's professionalism, communication, and feedback, stating that he didn't put a foot wrong throughout the preparation and on-track activities. Comparing Bearman to previous Haas rookies, Komatsu highlighted the 18-year-old's exceptional performance and expressed excitement for future sessions with him.
Haas F1 Team's director of engineering, Ayao Komatsu, expressed his satisfaction with rookie driver Oliver Bearman's performance during the first practice session of the Mexico Grand Prix. Komatsu praised Bearman's professionalism, smooth communication, and impressive feedback, stating that the 18-year-old exceeded expectations. Haas plans to continue working with Bearman in future sessions, indicating a promising future for the young driver.
Max Verstappen secured pole position for the Canadian Grand Prix in wet weather conditions, with Nico Hulkenberg taking a surprise second place before being hit with a grid drop for a red flag breach. Fernando Alonso finished third, followed by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell. Carlos Sainz and Lance Stroll also received penalties after the session. AlphaTauri lost both drivers in Q1, with Yuki Tsunoda in 16th and Nyck de Vries in 18th, as Pierre Gasly suffered a painful elimination in 17th after his moment with Sainz.
