Haas’ 2026 livery "marks the start of a completely new way of racing,” claims Ocon

F1 Grand Prix, GP Mexico, Autódromo Hermanos Rodriguez

Esteban Ocon says the reveal of Haas’ 2026 Formula One livery is more than a cosmetic milestone — it represents the beginning of a fundamentally new era for both the team and the sport. As the American outfit prepares for the most dramatic regulation shift in decades, Ocon believes the new identity reflects the scale of the challenge ahead.

Speaking at the launch, the Frenchman admitted that the winter break felt unusually short, but the livery unveiling helped crystallise the sense of a fresh start.

“We’re here already speaking in January, so it feels like two seasons in one,” he said. “But we were able to use the time well. I took the time between Christmas and New Year to really rest, and then restarted training early in January. I’ve put on a lot of weight on the muscle side — I’m in a pretty good state right now.”

The new livery, he said, is the first tangible expression of the VF‑26 project he has already sampled in the simulator. “Before Christmas we had our first taste of how the car would feel,” Ocon explained.

“It’s a very particular way of driving the car. There’s going to be a lot more management on the engine side and on the hybrid side. The balance felt decent, the grip was good, but the biggest change is from the engine side — that’s going to be the key.”

For Ocon, the livery reveal symbolises the moment the team steps fully into the unknown. “It’s an exciting challenge, and it’s a different way of driving compared to before,” he said. “I think we can forget everything we’ve learned since go‑karts on how to go fast. We need to learn everything new again.”

The Frenchman enters his second season with Haas encouraged by the team’s late‑2025 breakthrough. “That last race was supposed to be where we should have been eight, nine, or ten races before,” he reflected.

“We really found something great in the car in that last race. It took too long, but finishing that way shows we were capable of doing it. We’ll definitely look to carry that into this year.”

With 22 cars on the grid and six power unit suppliers, Ocon expects the early rounds to be unpredictable. “I’d say by the third or fourth race we’ll have some indication, but it won’t be the final pecking order,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot of development, especially in this first year. We need to focus race to race and get the maximum out of the car straight away from Australia.”

Still, the livery launch has reinforced his optimism about Haas’ trajectory. “This team is really growing, and this team is learning a lot,” he said. “We’re welcoming more partners, and it’s very serious how we’re going racing into this year.

"I trust that this team will give us a great tool to be fighting towards the front and towards the points. And if that’s the case, for sure we will be dangerous.”