Esteban Ocon shared his thoughts on the upcoming F1 2026 season with Haas during a pre-season Q&A released by the team.
The 2026 F1 season will see the French driver face what he described as the biggest regulation change of his career. Entering his second year with TGR Haas F1 Team, Ocon is preparing for a fundamental reset in driving style as Formula 1 moves into a new technical era. His off-season has focused on simulator work, seat fitting, and physical conditioning following the conclusion of the 2025 season at the Abu Dhabi GP.
Busy off-season and physical preparation for Haas’ 2026 F1 season
Ocon’s break proved shorter than typical for Haas’ 2026 preparations. The French driver finished his 2025 commitments on December 22nd after post-season testing. He completed a seat fit and simulator sessions before Christmas.
“We’re here already speaking in January, so it feels like two seasons in one, but we were able to use the time well. First of all, I finished on December 22, so after testing, we had to do a seat fit with the car plus the simulator. We had our first taste of how the car would feel when we got it to track, and we still have days remaining before testing,” Esteban Ocon explained.
The Frenchman prioritised rest over his usual training camp schedule initially. He resumed intensive training in early January with positive physical results heading into the 2026 season with Haas.
“I took the time between Christmas and the New Year to really rest. I normally do a training camp at this time, but as I was tired from the end of the year, it was more beneficial to restart the training camp early in January. That went very well and I’ve put on a lot of weight on the muscle side. I lost quite a lot of weight at the end of last year, and I’ve been able to regain it, so I’m in a pretty good state right now,” he stated.
Esteban Ocon’s first impressions from simulator work
Ocon completed his first simulator sessions with the VF-26 before Christmas. The experience provided initial insights into the challenges Ocon will face with Haas during the 2026 F1 season.
“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 car itself, you know, felt pretty good. The balance was decent, although of course it was our first taste in the simulator, so we need to see how it is in reality, but the level of grip was good,” Ocon stated.
The power unit management represents the biggest change Ocon identified for Haas’ 2026 season. The French driver emphasised the need to completely reset his approach to driving.
“Clearly, the biggest change is from the engine side, and that’s going to be the key for us to be prepared. It’s an exciting challenge, and it’s a different way of driving compared to before. I think we can forget everything that we’ve learned since go-karts on how to go fast, but it will be interesting to learn a new driving style and hopefully find speed with it.”
Building on late-season momentum
Haas showed strong improvement towards the end of the 2025 F1 season. Ocon plans to carry that momentum into Haas’ 2026 F1 season. The team discovered crucial setup direction in the final race.
When asked if the momentum was something he had taken into off-season planning, Esteban Ocon responded: “Definitely, as that last race was supposed to be where we should have been the eight, nine, or 10 races before. We really found something great in the car in that last race, something that we should have found earlier. It took too long, and unfortunately, it wasn’t the season that we were hoping to have, but it’s great that we managed to finish that way, as it shows we were capable of doing it.”
The late discovery proved both encouraging and frustrating for Ocon’s 2026 preparations. He emphasised carrying the positive aspects forward into the new campaign.
“We’ll definitely look to carry that into this year and hopefully start as we left off,” he added.
Biggest rule change of Esteban Ocon’s career ahead of the 2026 F1 season
Ocon drew on extensive F1 experience when assessing the technical changes for Haas’ 2026 season. The French driver began testing during the V8 era before the 2014 hybrid switch. However, these regulations represent an even larger shift.
“This is definitely the biggest rule change I’ve ever faced. The first time I drove a Formula 1 car was in the V8 era, then we went to a hybrid system, where I drove one day in Valencia back then and went to Abu Dhabi for FP1. It was probably a similar change to what we’ll face now, but as I said, we need to forget everything that has happened before,” Ocon stated.
Complete adaptation will be required for the new 2026 regulations. Ocon must reset ingrained habits that have developed throughout his career.
“We need to learn everything new again, so I think the experience helps to adapt quickly, but we need to adapt everything. All of our senses, how we feel, we’ll need to think a lot more while driving about what to do, to go quicker. It’s exciting, and it’s going to be interesting,” he added.
Performance expectations with 22-car grid
The expanded 22-car grid adds uncertainty to Ocon’s 2026 season outlook with Haas. The Frenchman expects several races before a clear performance order emerges. Development will play a crucial role throughout the season.
“I’d say by the third or fourth race we’ll have some indication, but it won’t be the final pecking order because there’s going to be a lot of development, especially in this first year,” Ocon explained.
Early points remain crucial despite the uncertainty surrounding Ocon’s 2026 F1 season with Haas. Mid-season upgrades could shuffle the competitive order significantly.
“It’s definitely worth taking all the points you can as early as you can, but even if we’re not exactly where we want to be, there are still things to grab in the middle of the season where lots of teams will be bringing updates. I think right now, we need to focus race to race and get the maximum amount of the car, do good things straight away from Australia, and then we will see how things pan out later,” he stated.
Excitement for second season with Haas
Ocon expressed optimism about his prospects heading into his second year with Haas. The team’s growth and development impressed the French driver throughout 2025.
“I’m excited about this year. This team is really growing, and this team is learning a lot. Since I arrived, there have been a lot of great things that have happened. We’re growing the team and welcoming more partners, and it’s very serious how we’re going racing into this year,” Ocon said.
The driver trusts Haas to provide competitive machinery for the 2026 season. Strong results would make the team a dangerous midfield competitor.
“I really hope, and 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, I think for sure we will be dangerous,” he concluded.
