Haas targets top 10 return with Montreal upgrade

Haas will bring an upgrade to the Canadian Grand Prix that team principal Ayao Komatsu hopes will allow the team to fight in the top 10 again.

Haas scored points in each of the first three rounds of the season, including a top-five finish in China as it matched up encouragingly against Red Bull and Alpine. However, it slipped down the pecking order after a scoreless Miami Grand Prix as many teams introduced new parts, but Komatsu says the timing of its major update package could return the team to the point-scoring mix.

“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 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.

“We're all looking forward to having this package to fight in the top ten. 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.”

Given Haas’ lack of upgrades in Miami – the team only bringing an additional floor winglet for its diffuser – Komatsu was encouraged by how close it was to finishing in the points last time out, with Ollie Bearman 11th and Esteban Ocon 13th.

Bearman has scored 17 of the team’s 18 points so far this season but also just missed out on the top ten when racing in Canada for the first time a year ago - a result he’s keen to better this time round.

“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.

“I love the city of Montreal, the fans, the circuit…and even the weather! We’re coming three weeks earlier this year than last, so I wonder if that will spice things up.”

Haas sits sixth in the standings and five points behind Alpine heading to Canada, with the team looking to match its best ever constructors’ championship finish of fifth place, having achieved the feat in 2018.