Haas has completed its latest Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme, with Ryo Hirakawa, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara driving the team’s 2025 Formula 1 car as scrutiny of its 2027 driver line-up intensifies.
As the 2027 F1 driver market gathers pace following the summer break, Haas remains one of the few teams yet to formally settle its line-up for next season. Oliver Bearman appears likely to retain his seat, while Esteban Ocon’s future remains under review as Haas evaluates its available options.
Haas assesses 2027 driver options at Portimao
The American team conducted a three-day TPC test at Portimao from 26-28 August. Reserve driver Hirakawa shared driving duties with 2025 Formula 2 champion and McLaren development driver Fornaroli, as well as current F2 title contender and Ferrari junior Camara.
All three drivers completed laps in the VF-25, Haas’ 2025 F1 car, at the Portuguese circuit. The test followed a similar TPC programme at Fuji last month, where Toyota-backed drivers Sho Tsuboi and Nirei Fukuzumi were given running time.
Haas has not released further details about the Portimao test, but the programme forms part of its broader evaluation of interested drivers before the team makes a final decision on its 2027 line-up.
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
“I think it’s really good that other people are actually interested in us,” Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu said ahead of the Dutch GP last weekend.
“At the moment, we’re not performing so well. We cannot challenge for points, but I think it’s nice that other people can see the potential in us. Within the constraint how we’re fighting and we’re trying to improve the team. We just take it as a compliment that other drivers are interested.”
Komatsu has emphasised that his immediate priority is maximising the performance of Haas’ car and drivers in 2026, suggesting the team will not rush its decision on the future pairing.
Haas has frequently been among the last teams to confirm its driver line-up for the following season during its relatively short F1 history. With other teams expected to maintain stable driver line-ups for 2027, a similar timeline remains possible.
“We’re not in any rush,” Komatsu said at Zandvoort. “We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them. They’ve got the tough challenge, right? You know what they are capable of.
“Ollie has showed it repeatedly, Esteban, when he is happy with the car, you know what he can do. So we need to really just focus on providing them with the best possible car, best set-up adaptation, and get the best out of them. And then both of our drivers are fully focused. So at the moment, we’re focused on that.”
