28 replies to this topic

[Ncedi]

Ocon to Haas confirmed:

https://www.motorspo...-deal/10638434/

[Maustinsj]

Was just about to post this. Sky confirming as well: https://www.skysport...i-year-contract

[cyclist]

Ocon is a fast driver, but with questionable ability to be part of a team. One can only hope that Bearman and Ocon are not too close to eachother on the track too often...

 

I do think he is fast though and can be a regular point scorer is the car is decent as it is right now.

Edited by cyclist, 25 July 2024 - 08:58.

[BarryinIN]

Although we’ve all been reading for weeks this was going to happen, I've been hoping it wouldn’t.
Sigh.
Now I can only hope I was wrong.

Come on, prove me wrong, Haas. Prove me wrong.

[Anja]

Ocon is a fast driver, but with questionable ability to be part of a team. One can only hope that Bearman and Ocon are not too close to eachother on the track too often...

 

And Haas wasn't really the best at managing their drivers so far. Haas fans should hope Komatsu is better at it than Steiner. 

Edited by Anja, 25 July 2024 - 09:17.

[Henri Greuter]

Poor Bearman.....

[noikeee]

I think it's quite a coup for Haas, given they couldn't keep hold of Hulkenberg. Hard to imagine how could they poach any faster driver than Ocon with some experience.

Yeah he's a bit of a cock but in a clear lead driver role I wouldn't expect any issues. Bearman has some potential and should grow nicely next to him. Good moves by Haas.

[Beri]

Ocon, despite his antics, is a solid driver. Good signing for Haas.

[ANF]

Ocon is an excellent replacement for Hülkenberg: experienced, fast, good understanding of the car (I think). Among the other available drivers, only Sainz would have met those criteria.

Let's hope Ocon and Bearman can get along...

[BRG]

Let's hope Ocon and Bearman can get along...

They will get along fine. As long as Bearman is running more than one position in front or behind Ocon.. 

 

I give it three races before they clash.

[SophieB]

Ben Hunt has an interesting piece for Autosport here making the case that maybe Ocon isn’t as much at fault for the personnel type discord in teams as generally thought, pointing out he seemed to get along well enough with Ricciardo at Renault and maybe the problems with Perez were more to do with Perez, and that where Fernando is concerned, he delicately points out that Fernando hasn’t always gelled with his other team mates. 

Anyway, whatever his past, good luck to him.

[Deeq]

They will get along fine. As long as Bearman is running more than one position in front or behind Ocon..

I give it three races before they clash.

😂
Funny cause true..

[Gareth]

Haas needed an experienced driver to pair with Bearman. They know full well from what happened when they replaced Mazepin with KMag that you need at least 1 decent yardstick for your car.

 

Ocon's a solid, experienced, F1 level guy. Decent move for them I think.

[Touchdown]

Ben Hunt has an interesting piece for Autosport here making the case that maybe Ocon isn’t as much at fault for the personnel type discord in teams as generally thought, pointing out he seemed to get along well enough with Ricciardo at Renault and maybe the problems with Perez were more to do with Perez, and that where Fernando is concerned, he delicately points out that Fernando hasn’t always gelled with his other team mates. 

Anyway, whatever his past, good luck to him.

To be fair, he was never usually close enough to Ricciardo on track to have any issues with him.

[Yoshi]

I just love Reddit looking at this information (kudos to FerrariStrategisttt)

 

• 2017: Ocon replaced Hulkenberg at Force India (Hulkenberg moved to Renault)

• 2020: Ocon replaced Hulkenberg at Renault (Hülkenberg left the team)

• 2025: Ocon replaced Hulkenberg at Haas (Hülkenberg moved to Sauber)

[Laster]

So Ocon to Audi at some point.

[Secretariat]

Not on my wish-list but it's a good signing for Haas and Ocon. He will be working with people that he's had a working relationship with in Komatsu and Mark Slade (if they are paired). It is Ocon's opportunity for him to show he can lead in a positive way. I do not think Bearman is going to match him in pace and consistency which will set the hierarchy that I think is favorable for Ocon's psyche.

[jonklug]

Worst kept secret of the past few weeks, glad to hear it's finally official. Good signing for Haas, for Ocon I don't think it's the best move but time will tell. 

[IrvTheSwerve]

Ocon/Bearman is a cracking little line-up for Haas.

[DoodoolTalla]

Ocon is a good driver but the chip he has on his shoulder that makes him constantly self sabotage is going to follow him at HAAS imo. 

[messy]

On a pure driving ability level this is perfect for Haas, bordering on a real coup. Clearly though he’s only in this position because of his baggage and not being able to be a team player is quite a big red flag for teams. I honestly think he’d probably have a cushy seat as a #2 at a top team if he had a different attitude. Potential for fireworks with Bearman, definitely.

[Alfisti]

Good signing for Haas but the end of "big team" ambition for Ocon. Of all the teams on the grid I see Haas as the most likely to be 9th or 10th, they just do not have the facilities or the investment. Vowels will get Williams past them, you'd think Audi will do better than them ....... I mean who else is there they can beat? Alpine? 

[Slipstreamer]

Ocon seems like a nice chap, as I recall even on god terms with KMag. The hiring leaves you wonder if this was the plan from day one for the new Team boss?
Judging from comments on social media today, Haas has not received applause for the new line up.. they may surprise us, but chances are that it won't happen, since they continue to show poor pit performance, strategy and the new driver combo looks quite risky (rookie+non- cooperative driver)

[Dutchrudder]

I’d worry a bit for Ocon that Haas will prove to be a dead end move for his career the same as it was for KMag and Grosjean (two drivers who came into the sport with some level of fanfare much as Ocon had early on).

Hulkenberg seems, to me, to have been a bit lucky that Haas have finally managed to produce a car that is capable of showcasing his talent in, and even then his promising move to Audi is in part made available by having to commit to a bleak year at Sauber while they do what they can to avoid scoring points and losing development time once the name change takes place,

Not that Ocon really deserves a great chance, he’s been a decent peddler on pace but not earth shattering, and particularly clumsy against team mates (can’t remember another driver so famed for crashing into his teammate in my time watching the sport, it seems a foregone conclusion that there’s at least one incident every year).

[PitViperRacing]

Feels like HAAS is a team with a bit of upwards momentum, so not a bad call on Ocon's part.

[MikeTekRacing]

Ben Hunt has an interesting piece for Autosport here making the case that maybe Ocon isn’t as much at fault for the personnel type discord in teams as generally thought, pointing out he seemed to get along well enough with Ricciardo at Renault and maybe the problems with Perez were more to do with Perez, and that where Fernando is concerned, he delicately points out that Fernando hasn’t always gelled with his other team mates. 

Anyway, whatever his past, good luck to him.

with Daniel he never really had the chance to race so no issues.
Ocon's problems with Perez could have been Perez related, his ones with Alonso - Alonso related and his problems with Gasly to be Gasly related - but I think there is a clear pattern here

[JL14]

Team player straight away! 

 

“I don’t think Ollie needs my help on anything. “He probably has more experience with the team than I will have next year – he’s been driving a lot in FP1s, in testing as well. I’m probably going to have to ask him a lot more things! I won’t have to give him tips, there’s not going to be any of that.”

Edited by JL14, 26 July 2024 - 06:21.

[Bendo]

Ocon is a decent driver to be fair, pushed Alonso hard.

Just a shame for him that he isn't a team player in the slightest that will kill any chance of him ever getting a top drive.

[baddog]

Team player straight away! 

 

“I don’t think Ollie needs my help on anything. “He probably has more experience with the team than I will have next year – he’s been driving a lot in FP1s, in testing as well. I’m probably going to have to ask him a lot more things! I won’t have to give him tips, there’s not going to be any of that.”

 

Seems like a compliment