Here's the thing about the paddock rumor mill: sometimes it just completely makes things up out of thin air. That is precisely the stance Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu took when addressing rampant speculation regarding a new contract for Ollie Bearman. Whispers had started swirling that a delay in re-signing the Briton was due to an outsized financial demand, with a specific figure of 6 million euros being banded about on social media ahead of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Speaking during Friday's teams' press conference, Komatsu did not hold back when asked about the alleged excessive salary increase. "I have no idea where that came from," he stated, calling the claims absolute nonsense. He pointed out that this is not even the first time this season the team has faced completely fabricated stories, bringing up a previous false claim from Miami about an argument with Esteban Ocon that had zero truth to it either.
I think the way Red Bull and Racing Bulls are set up is very different to how we collaborate with Ferrari,
According to the Haas boss, people simply invent stories for clicks and likes, and before you know it, multiple outlets copy and paste the noise until it masquerades as the truth. While Komatsu admitted he could not share the specific details of the ongoing contract extension delay, he made it abundantly clear that both sides are entirely aligned in their desire to keep working together. Bearman himself had touched on the situation earlier on Thursday, noting that there are a few things being worked on in the background.
If the team ultimately retains Bearman, the lineup will feature two Ferrari junior drivers, as current Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara has already been confirmed to replace Esteban Ocon in 2027. When the conversation turned to the team's technical ties with Ferrari and whether the setup mirrors the relationship between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, Komatsu firmly rejected the comparison.
"I think the way Red Bull and Racing Bulls are set up is very different to how we collaborate with Ferrari," Komatsu explained, noting that the two outfits do not share an owner or a global driver program, unlike the Red Bull stable. Instead, the partnership with Ferrari simply grants access and opportunities. He noted that the collaboration allowed for Ollie Bearman's FP1 appearance, and similarly gave them the chance to test Rafael Camara in a TPC after the youngster showed incredible speed and exciting talent in the junior series. Ferrari never forced either driver onto the squad, Komatsu insisted, emphasizing that Haas evaluated the talent, tested them, and made their own choice.
F1
F1
F1
