Haas confirm VF-25 debut plan ahead of F1 2025 launch
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Haas confirms Esteban Ocon will debut the VF-25 at Silverstone on February 16, ahead of the official F1 2025 season launch.
Haas F1 Team has confirmed that Esteban Ocon will debut their 2025 challenger, the VF-25, during a shakedown at Silverstone on February 16. The team explained that the decision ensures Ocon is "100 percent" comfortable with the car ahead of the season.
ocon set to debut the VF-25
With an all-new driver lineup for the 2025 Formula 1 season, Haas has brought in Esteban Ocon from Alpine and promoted Oliver Bearman from Formula 2. The duo replaces Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, marking a fresh start for the team.
Ocon has already driven Haas machinery, having tested for the team at the post-season Abu Dhabi session. During that outing, he completed 119 laps at Yas Marina Circuit, finishing 10th among 23 drivers. However, his experience with the team’s cars remains limited compared to Bearman, who participated in two Grands Prix and several free practice sessions last season to prepare for his full-time debut.
shakedown plan at silverstone
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu detailed the reasoning behind assigning Ocon the first laps in the VF-25. “We will do a filming day in Silverstone first, and then we go to Bahrain for another filming day two days before the official test starts,” he explained.
“We’re going to have Esteban driving in Silverstone. Why? Because Esteban, in terms of driver installation, is more challenging. We just want to make sure 100 percent that Esteban’s installation is fine. If there’s an issue, we’ll have more time to react,” Komatsu added.
He noted that Bearman’s setup is more straightforward, adding, “We are confident with Ollie’s installation, but we’re slightly more cautious with Esteban’s.” After Ocon’s Silverstone run, Bearman will have his turn in Bahrain during the shakedown, which leads directly into the pre-season testing scheduled for February 25-27.
haas eyes consistent progress
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Komatsu stated that Haas was “punching above our weight” last season. He emphasized the goal of eventually competing against bigger teams on merit. “We want to beat some of the bigger teams without relying on them making mistakes, but we’re not there yet,” he admitted.
Asked when Haas might reach that level, Komatsu remained cautious. “It’s a difficult question. I don’t know because I’m just focused on the areas we can improve right now. We’re prioritizing attention to detail and efficiency across the business. Maybe it’ll take a few years, but it’s hard to say exactly,” he concluded.
With Ocon and Bearman poised to lead the team into a new era, Haas is taking deliberate steps to build on their recent progress. The Silverstone debut of the VF-25 marks the first step in their journey for the 2025 season.
