Ocon Hails Haas’ ‘Mountain-Climbing’ Effort in Barcelona Test

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Esteban Ocon admitted he was left in awe of the “unbelievable effort” made by Haas to arrive in a competitive position for the opening day of Formula 1’s 2026 pre-season test in Barcelona, saying the team had effectively “climbed mountains” to be ready.

Haas elected to run on the first day of the five-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with Ocon completing his first extensive mileage in the VF-26 under real test conditions.

Heavy Mileage on Opening Day

During the morning session, Ocon completed 66 laps, recording a best time of 1:24.520, allowing the American team to gather a substantial amount of baseline data. Haas then continued an aggressive programme in the afternoon, with Ocon improving to a 1:21.301 and logging around 150 laps across the full day.

That mileage placed Haas among the most productive teams on day one, underlining a clear focus on system validation, reliability, and correlation rather than headline lap times during the early phase of the 2026 regulations.

Positive Start with New Identity

The Barcelona test also marked the first full appearance of Haas’ new Toyota-inspired livery, reflecting the strengthening technical relationship between the two organisations. For Haas, the combination of visual identity and high mileage represented a positive opening statement at the start of the new regulatory cycle.

According to Ocon, the team’s readiness on Monday morning was particularly notable given the tight timeline involved. The VF-26 had only completed its initial shakedown at Fiorano the previous Saturday, driven by Oliver Bearman.

‘An Unbelievable Effort from the Team’

Speaking to F1TV after the opening morning session, Ocon highlighted how close Haas came to being on track at the very start of the day.

“I think, first of all, an unbelievable effort from the team, really, to put the car down at 09:20 this morning,” Ocon said.

He explained that the car itself was ready even earlier, but the team opted to wait for improved track conditions before beginning its programme.

“The car was ready at nine, but we were waiting on better track conditions and a few things that we wanted to be perfect before we went out.”

Ocon stressed how much work had gone on behind the scenes in the days leading up to the test.

“From Fiorano testing with Oliver to here, people have really climbed mountains to make this car work. And it’s been really good.”

Learning Phase the Priority

Ocon made clear that the opening day was primarily about following the test plan and learning as much as possible from each lap, rather than chasing performance.

“We are dealing with the plan and learning as we go. Of course, it’s a busy programme for the day, so it’s difficult to complete everything.”

Despite the demanding schedule, Ocon said the first full day in the car had exceeded expectations.

“For the first real day of driving, I think so far it’s going really well. We will keep pushing to make sure all the details are covered.”

Benefit of Extended Testing

The expanded pre-season testing allocation under the 2026 regulations was also highlighted as a key advantage for teams adapting to the new era.

“We have more days than normal, which is a good thing,” Ocon added.

For Haas, a strong and productive opening day in Barcelona provides an important foundation ahead of the two upcoming Bahrain tests. With high mileage already achieved and early operational readiness demonstrated, the team has positioned itself well to accelerate its understanding of the VF-26 as the 2026 season approaches.