MoneyGram Haas F1 Team finished with Oliver Bearman 10th, and Esteban 18th, at the Japanese Grand Prix, held Sunday at the Suzuka International Circuit.
Bearman took the start on Pirelli P Zero Yellow medium tires from a career-best 10th place, having made Q3 during qualifying, and maintained his position through an orderly opening lap. Bearman managed his tires through the opening stint of the grand prix before coming into the pits on lap 23 for a set of Hard white tires, re-emerging in the thick of the midfield pack. Bearman cycled back through into 10th position, which he retained through to the checkered flag – earning back-to-back points finishes for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team.
Esteban started the race from 18th on the grid on hard tires and ran a longer first stint, pitting on lap 32 for medium tires, adopting the alternative strategy. Esteban was part of an intense four-way battle for position across the closing stages and ultimately came home 18th overall.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team holds sixth position in the Constructors’ Championship, on 15 points.
Up front World Champion Max Verstappen claimed victory for Red Bull Racing, the 64th of his career, ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Esteban Ocon: “The aim was to pick up a safety car as we started on the hard compound – we didn’t have much to lose trying this strategy – and still managed to get a good start. Sadly, without a safety car it wasn’t the best strategy and we knew that, we tried our best – but it is more data, and more information to compare for next race. The important thing is that we transfer the good performance we saw on Ollie’s car, so a big well done to him, and to the team for bringing updates after Australia.”
