Esteban Ocon beamed on Saturday afternoon after he secured a remarkable Q3 appearance for Haas at the 2025 F1 Monaco GP. Despite entering the weekend with modest expectations following a string of underwhelming practice sessions, the Frenchman delivered a standout lap that placed him eighth on the grid. In doing so, he placed the VF-25 firmly within the top ten, outperforming several midfield rivals in a fiercely competitive session.
Struggles from Imola to Monaco
Following Qualifying, Ocon spoke candidly in the print media pen about Haas’s recent struggles. He reflected on the team’s form since the Imola GP, where they had languished at the back of the field throughout all five sessions.
“It’s not a secret that we were last since Imola,” Ocon admitted, reflecting on the American team’s recent form, “You know, all [five] sessions in Imola we were almost dead last. The three practices [in Monaco], not far from last.”
He identified a persistent issue with front-end grip as a key weakness in the VF-25. This limitation became particularly evident on Monaco’s tight and unforgiving layout, where sharp turn-in performance is crucial.
“We really struggled with the front end of the car and the car not turning as it should into the corners. That has been something that, with the grip coming up, has become more apparent. In Imola it was very clear, and here, it became clear today.”
Intensive work behind the scenes
Despite the team’s poor form in practice, Ocon praised Haas for its relentless behind-the-scenes efforts. The engineers and mechanics worked tirelessly to maximise every possible element of the car’s set-up. Their commitment ensured that Ocon could extract the VF-25’s full potential during Qualifying.
“But we kept working on the car, all together with the team, all the way into Qualifying as well, you know, with diff, with the tool, with engine braking, brake balance, with flap as well. You know, everything that we were allowed to play with, we did and the car came alive much more into that Q2 run two. Managed to secure and go through which was unexpected.”
Although progressing into Q3 had not been a realistic expectation earlier in the day, Ocon grasped the opportunity once it presented itself. He delivered a lap he described as leaving “nothing on the table”.
“And then that Q3 lap, I really didn’t leave anything on the table.”
A lap to remember
Ocon ranked his final Q3 effort among the best of his career at Monaco. He drove on the limit through the principality’s most demanding corners, brushing the walls while maintaining complete control. The lap captured the essence of Qualifying in Monaco, balancing the need for precision with bravery and rhythm.
“I have done three good laps here around Monaco in my career. That’s one of them,” he stated proudly. “If you want to re-watch Turns 15 and 16—entry touching the wall, apex touching the wall, exit touching the wall—there is nothing left in there.”
Hope for future improvements
Although the VF-25 continues to suffer from several limitations, Ocon remains optimistic about the team’s trajectory. He believes that once they address these small but persistent issues, Haas will regularly find themselves in more competitive positions.
“So, solid, solid Saturday, definitely,” he concluded. “I am sure that when we get through these little problems, we are going to be much more in these kinds of positions. But today, we managed to overcome them, and it feels good.”
Ocon encouraged by Monaco Qualifying performance
Ocon spoke further about the changes that the Haas team had made across the weekend to help him secure P8 at the 2025 F1 Monaco GP. When asked if the result encouraged him, the Frenchman replied, “Yes, definitely.”
He compared their turnaround in performance to that in Miami, noting that, like before, something had had just clicked for the team at the crucial moment.
“And same as Miami, really, we, you know, kept working on it and suddenly, you know, something clicks.”
However, Ocon acknowledged that the VF-25 remained far from ideal, noting that although the team had made progress, several issues still required ongoing work throughout the season.
“The problem is still there, but we managed to be on top of it a little bit more and not be slowed down so much with it. So, not easy, but yeah, it goes in the right direction.”
Focus shifts to strategy for Sunday
Although pleased with his Qualifying result, Ocon also expressed a sense of relief that the session had gone to plan. The strong starting position places Haas in a valuable position for Sunday’s race, and Ocon emphasised the importance of maximising it through execution and adaptability.
“It’s a relief, yes, because it’s the race to do it. We need to do a good start, obviously, tomorrow, figure out, you know, who has what in terms of tyres and then hopefully this position will be a successful weekend, but not done yet.”
Looking ahead, Ocon underlined the importance of the race start and tyre management. He also stated that the race was not one that usually benefited those who were patient. Referring to his 2024 race, where he retired on the first lap following a contentious and heavily criticised collision with then-Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly, Ocon explained that a strong start is crucial to gain positions early, as overtaking proves difficult later in the race.
“Usually, it’s not a very patient race, you know. You need to be flat out in the first lap to keep your position or gain a position and usually then it’s pretty boring. And you have one moment to push now.”
Detailed team discussions needed ahead of Sunday’s race
However, Ocon reiterated the need for detailed team discussions ahead of the race, particularly in light of the mandated two-stop strategy introduced for the 2025 F1 Monaco GP. Although he expressed mild disappointment about not starting higher, he remained focused on working with the team to identify their best strategic options.
“Yeah, I need to talk with the team, see what the strategy is and assess, you know, who has what in terms of tyres, as I said. So there are more possibilities, which is a shame looking at where we start, but that’s how it is.”
