Key Highlights
- Ayao Komatsu denies rumors of a fallout with Esteban Ocon.
- Komatsu labels the reports as “absolute bull****.”
- No arguments were reported between the driver and team in Miami.
- Haas will run an upgrade at the upcoming Montreal race.
Rumor War: Haas Team Principal Slams Ocon Reports
Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has put a stop to persistent rumors of tension with driver Esteban Ocon. The Team Principal, speaking at the Canadian Grand Prix, firmly denies any issues and dubs the reports as “absolute bull****.” This came after speculation that there had been disagreements during the Miami race.
During Thursday’s media day, Ocon himself refuted the rumors, stating they were fabricated without foundation. “The stories have been made up with no basis,” he said. Komatsu echoed this stance, adding, “I honestly don’t know where the story came from, no idea.
No foundation whatsoever, absolute bull****.”
When asked about potential fallout, Komatsu expressed disbelief and frustration: “If somebody wants to write that kind of bull****, feel free, but is that journalism? I have no idea. It’s terrible.
What are they trying to achieve? It’s crazy.” He emphasized the impact on both Ocon and his manager, saying, “Esteban gets worried, his manager gets worried.”
Despite the rumors, Komatsu assured that Haas will still push for performance improvement: “We’ll see tomorrow with our substantial upgrade at Montreal. Whether it translates into better results or not, we need to develop further. We didn’t have a good enough package in Miami, but an extra week brought us more time.”
Montreal Upgrade Plans
While the focus was on addressing rumors, Haas has its eyes set on Montreal. Komatsu stated they will be bringing significant upgrades: “We’re running substantial updates for Montreal. Whether it’s going to improve our performance remains to be seen, but we’ve developed further and will see what happens tomorrow.” This shows a commitment to the team’s progress despite the current speculation.
Conclusion
Haas is undeterred by the latest drama, focusing on performance and development. The team principal’s direct response serves as a reminder of the ongoing pressure in Formula 1, where every rumor can impact morale and strategy. As for the Montreal race, all eyes will be on Haas to see if they can deliver the results that justify their upgrades.
