Haas workforce principal Ayao Komatsu has laid out the factors dealing with candidates for the workforce’s second seat in 2027, insisting that outright velocity will take precedence over any business or producer ties.
The American outfit has but to formally verify its line-up for the 2027 Method 1 season.
Oliver Bearman is anticipated to proceed for one more 12 months below the phrases he signed when he joined Haas final season.
Nonetheless, the second seat is much less settled, with Esteban Ocon not seemingly assured to maintain his drive past 2026.
Requested what Haas is in search of, Komatsu made it clear that efficiency comes first.
“I’ve all the time mentioned, we take drivers by efficiency, so efficiency comes completely first,” he advised media.
“If two drivers have gotten equal efficiency, affiliations or the packages they’ve received matter.
“However we by no means take any person who’s three-tenths slower, however who has received affiliations with Toyota or Ferrari, or received 5 million extra.
“We’re not going to do this, so it’s all about efficiency first.”
2027 Haas lineup stays a thriller
Haas is amongst solely a handful of groups nonetheless to formalise its 2027 line-up, and Komatsu urged a call isn’t imminent
. Requested when he expects to make the decision, he mentioned: “I don’t know, not subsequent week, shall I say.”
Reigning F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli and present F2 title contender Rafael Camara are each believed to be within the working for the drive, whereas latest reviews have additionally linked former Alpine driver Jack Doohan, who joined Haas as a reserve driver this 12 months.
Komatsu confirmed the workforce has no scarcity of curiosity to work by way of. “We’re in a really lucky state of affairs,” he mentioned. “There are such a lot of drivers eager about our seat. 5 [drivers].”
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