Haas is betting on a new update package at the Italian Grand Prix, which takes place from September 4 to 6, to recover performance and slow Audi’s approach in the 2026 Formula 1 standings. The team, currently in seventh place, last scored points at the Monaco GP held in June.
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Haas is considered one of the few teams operating below the budget cap and had not brought a significant update package since Canada. Now, the expectation is to use the new features to compete again for positions in the midfield pack: “We will arrive in Italy eager to leave behind a frustrating weekend in Zandvoort,” said team principal Ayao Komatsu after a double disqualification in the Netherlands.
“There were certainly positive points operationally, but in the end, we were still looking for more performance from the VF-26. This weekend, we are bringing another update package to the car, so again, it is essential that we make the most of the free practice sessions, thoroughly evaluate our data, and strive to keep pushing in the midfield pack.
For Komatsu, the intense pace of the second half of the season increases the challenge, but Haas intends to repeat the progress shown last year. “The races in the second half of the season come at a fast pace – which is great – but it is definitely a challenge. We showed last year that we can continue finding performance throughout the season, and that is our ongoing focus.”
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Esteban Ocon also sees potential in the updates after positive results in Budapest and Zandvoort. “We are bringing a comprehensive list of updates to Monza, focused on closing the gap to our competitors in the midfield pack,” said the Frenchman.
“Budapest and Zandvoort were positive on my side, in the sense that I felt comfortable in the car and we really extracted the maximum from the package we had. So, I would like to continue this trend and get the most out of these updates from day one and get back to fighting for points.”
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