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Haas heads to the Canadian Grand Prix with a significant upgrade package in hand and renewed optimism, as team principal Ayao Komatsu targets a return to the top ten after a difficult outing in Miami.
The American outfit had made a bright start to the season, scoring points in each of the first three rounds â including an eye-catching top-five finish in China, where Haas measured up favourably against Red Bull and Alpine. That early momentum, however, stalled in Miami, where a points-less weekend exposed how quickly the midfield pecking order can shift when rivals arrive with fresh development.
The difference in Miami was stark: while several competitors introduced meaningful new parts, Haas brought only an additional floor winglet for its diffuser. Despite that relative hardware disadvantage, the team came agonisingly close to scoring â Ollie Bearman finishing 11th and Esteban Ocon 13th â a fact that Komatsu found quietly encouraging ahead of Canada.
"For us, we're looking forward to the weekend as we have an upgrade package coming," Komatsu said. "As it's a Sprint weekend, we'll only have FP1 to evaluate it, understand it and get the best out of it. It's quite a lot to do, but that's what a lot of other teams did in Miami, so we're really up for the challenge."
The Sprint format adds a layer of complexity to integrating new parts, compressing the usual development feedback loop into a single free practice session. It is a challenge Komatsu is well aware of, but one he views as a test the team is prepared to meet.
"We're all looking forward to having this package to fight in the top ten," he added. "We're aiming to get the best out of the car and push forward in what's already proving to be a close, competitive season."
At the heart of Haas' points tally this season is Bearman, who has accumulated 17 of the team's 18 points â a striking contribution from a driver still finding his footing in Formula 1's most unforgiving environment. Those familiar with Bearman's physical and mental adaptation to F1 will appreciate just how much ground he has covered in a short space of time.
Montreal also holds personal significance for the young Briton. Racing at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve for the first time last year, Bearman narrowly missed out on the points, finishing 11th â a result that has clearly left an impression.
"Last year in Montreal I thought there was more we could've achieved, so I'm definitely looking to improve on that P11," Bearman said. "We're bringing our next upgrade to Canada, but of course with it being a Sprint weekend it's going to be a hard task to get it into the perfect window right away, however I have no doubts that we should be in that midfield pack fighting for points in both races."
Bearman also acknowledged the atmospheric appeal of the Canadian venue: "I love the city of Montreal, the fans, the circuitâŠand even the weather! We're coming three weeks earlier this year than last, so I wonder if that will spice things up."
With Haas sitting sixth in the constructors' standings and just five points adrift of Alpine heading into Canada, the stakes extend well beyond a single race weekend. The team is chasing its best ever constructors' championship finish of fifth place â a target it last reached in 2018 â and the timing of this upgrade could prove pivotal in that pursuit.
The internal dynamics add further intrigue to Haas' Canadian assignment. Questions around Esteban Ocon's long-term future at the team have been circulating, making strong performances from both drivers all the more important as the season gathers pace.
For now, the focus is squarely on Montreal â and on whether Haas' upgrade can deliver the competitive step Komatsu believes it can.
Heâs a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.