There was a lot happening within the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix that it was arduous to overshadow the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, the dramatic near-misses and controversial retirements, and the strain of the closing laps as Verstappen reeled in Charles Leclerc.
However in ending fourth in a race the place no one beginning forward of them retired, I’d argue Oliver Bearman and Haas did simply that.
Two years’ in the past, Bearman made his FP1 debut for Haas in Mexico Metropolis and instantly impressed then-Haas trackside engineering director Ayao Komatsu. Inside three months, Komatsu was the staff principal and, a yr later, Bearman was one among his race drivers.
The FP1 look actually stood out for Komatsu, notably how shortly Bearman obtained up to the mark. It was just like Brazil final yr when the Ferrari younger driver was known as upon at late discover to drive the unwell Kevin Magnussen’s automotive – his first lap of Interlagos catching Komatsu’s eye – and it didn’t take Bearman lengthy on Sunday to make one other robust early impression.
“Very, very impressed [with Bearman],” Komatsu stated. “Lap 1, he managed to get by way of that mess in Flip 1, Flip 2, Flip 3, which is usually the case right here. So he is completed that very properly. After which later, Max [Verstappen] was behind us. So to soak up that strain from Max and really draw back from Max was implausible.
“Then within the second stint, once more, we had the strain from Mercedes – Mercedes, proper?! –- after which we’re completely high quality, did not make any errors. We made the fitting name, I consider, for the second cease.
“After the second cease, George [Russell] was pressuring us loads. Then in the direction of the tip, [Oscar] Piastri. These guys are high drivers, high groups, driving barely quicker vehicles than us. However at the moment within the race, we held our personal.
“It is simply the entire thing, from drivers to engineers to mechanics to the pit cease – 2.2-second pit cease, I feel, which is the quickest we’ve got completed this yr – it’s only a entire staff effort. I simply can not categorical how glad I’m for everybody.”
No podium wanted for a a champagne celebration by Komatsu (left) and Bearman. Andy Hone/Getty Photos
Bearman marked himself out as a future star together with his debut look for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia final yr, however in 2025 he’s needed to take care of the ups and downs of a full season in F1. In less-competitive equipment, he hasn’t had many alternatives to struggle with the top-four groups since his Ferrari outing, however he took full benefit in Mexico Metropolis.
“I had a superb begin, slotted myself between the 2 Mercs and really had good tempo,” Bearman stated. “I used to be capable of keep in DRS, George misplaced DRS, then Hamilton and Max had a little bit of a coming collectively and I benefited from that too.
“Truthfully I used to be s****ing myself going side-by-side with Max, however it’s actually cool to go wheel-to-wheel with these those who I’ve been watching since I began watching F1 and I had them in my mirrors for a very long time, so it was in all probability essentially the most strain I‘ve ever had in a race state of affairs.”
Bearman joked he had been seeking to safe Haas’ first-ever podium when working P3 for the primary stint, however a two-stop technique helped him maintain nearly all of vehicles at bay, with solely Verstappen clearing him on a one-stop. As a substitute, he needed to accept fourth, with matches the perfect consequence Haas has scored in its F1 historical past – a statistic not misplaced on Romain Grosjean, who was current in Mexico. The Frenchman completed fourth for Haas in Austria seven years in the past and advised Komatsu he’d been hoping Bearman would beat his file from 2018.
It was a cultured contact and simply one among many who Komatsu obtained as infinite rivals came visiting to congratulate him on the consequence post-race.
Bearman’s exhibiting vindicated the choice to make a late improve to the Haas F1 VF-25, and offered emotional payback to these behind the scenes. Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Photos
Whereas the instant influence of Bearman’s fourth and Esteban Ocon’s ninth was to maneuver Haas as much as eighth within the constructors’ championship – 10 factors behind sixth-placed Racing Bulls – the broader one was vindication of the choice to deliver an improve to Austin final weekend, and a reward for staff members that give a lot by way of the yr.
“If you aren’t getting emotional a couple of day like this, when are you going to get emotional?” Komatsu admitted. “But it surely’s simply due to every part we’ve been going by way of, how a lot arduous work you are placing in day and night time, after which how you’re going by way of these low moments, like Melbourne, and so on., and the way everybody reacted – all these issues come again to you.
“Now, speaking about this, I get emotional once more. However I am simply so glad. And it was a terrific drive for Esteban [Ocon] as properly, on the one cease, making that work, getting some extra factors for the staff.
“Generally you lose, typically you win, however once you lose, you respect what the others have completed. Like Nico [Hulkenberg’s] podium in Silverstone. Really, as a staff, we’re very glad for him, though it is in opposition to us. Truthfully, I feel it is a great, great championship and testomony to the entire of System 1.
“I am simply so glad for everybody within the staff, girls and boys – they work so arduous. But it surely’s true in life [that] there’s extra disappointment than joyful moments. In the present day, I am simply so pleased with everybody. I am simply so glad that we managed to get this consequence to uplift everybody within the staff.”
On a day when Lando Norris’ dominance noticed a change within the championship lead, it may both be the race winner or the motive force Bearman saved behind till the flag – Piastri – who finally feels the influence of the consequence essentially the most come Abu Dhabi. However on Sunday night time not less than, it was Haas that was left celebrating hardest.
