Rob Smedley: Haas’ current structure cannot produce a front-running F1 team

Smedley questions Haas’ long-term ceiling

Former Ferrari Formula 1 race engineer Rob Smedley believes Haas cannot become a front-running team while it continues to operate under its current structure.

Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast, Smedley delivered a direct assessment of Haas’ 2026 campaign and its prospects beyond it. While he acknowledged the respect surrounding team principal Ayao Komatsu’s management style, he argued that the organisation’s fundamental model limits its potential.

Development remains the central concern

Podcast co-host Jake Humphrey identified the same pattern from a different perspective. Haas, he said, is often frustrating because it appears to start with a fast car but does not maintain that performance through the season. Humphrey questioned whether the team lacks either the resources or the capability required to sustain development.

That concern is reflected in Haas’ current championship position. The team sits seventh in the constructors’ standings with 21 points, while Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon are 13th and 17th in the drivers’ championship on 18 and three points respectively.

Bearman’s season illustrates the difficulty of converting early pace into consistent results. After scoring 17 points across the opening two rounds, he endured three grand prix retirements and added only one further point over the next nine races.

Praise for Komatsu and Bearman

Despite his criticism of Haas’ structure, Humphrey was clear that his frustration is directed at the circumstances surrounding the team rather than its personnel. He described Komatsu’s approach as one he “absolutely adore[s]” and called Bearman an exceptional driver.

Humphrey said he would like to see Komatsu leading a team further up the grid and Bearman driving for one, too. That view aligns with the broader implication of Smedley’s assessment: Haas may possess capable people, but its current framework could prevent them from competing consistently at the front.

Bearman’s future has also drawn wider attention, as explored in Martin Brundle’s call for him to consider a ‘Plan B’ amid Ferrari uncertainty.