Haas F1 Team fired up for Miami their first of three home races

Team Principal Ayao Komatsu reflected on a hectic opening phase of the 2025 Formula 1 season and praised his squad’s reaction to early adversity ahead of the Miami weekend: “We’ve had a frantic start to the season, completing five races in six weekends, and we’ve already had a rollercoaster of a ride.

"Melbourne really exposed the weakness of the VF-25, but the team reacted incredibly well to bring an updated floor already for race three and score 20 points across three races. Every time we send the car out on the track, we’re learning how to get the best out of the VF-25 and how to improve it.

"Esteban and Ollie have been instrumental in providing direction and working with the team every day, not to mention some of the incredible race drives they’ve produced already. On the back of all that, we’re now coming to Miami, which is of course, our first home race of the season.

"The Miami Grand Prix is an amazing event that certainly added a new dimension to Formula 1, and it’s only getting better. We can’t wait to get going in front of our home crowd and partners," added Komatsu.

Rookie Oliver Bearman is preparing for his first experience of the Miami International Autodrome — and his second Sprint Race weekend of the season.

Bearman said ahead of the weekend in the States: “It’s our second Sprint of the season, and it’s going to be tough. It’s my first time in Miami, and adding that to the fact it’s a Sprint, it’s going to be difficult, but I’m excited to drive there.

"The location is fantastic and it’s a highlight of the calendar for sure, the stadium looks super cool, and it’s the first home race of the season for MoneyGram Haas F1 Team – so it’s going to be super busy and super fun!”

Esteban Ocon, who has scored points at each of his three previous visits to Miami, believes the team is continuing to grow after a demanding opening stint.

Ocon said: “After a long triple-header it was good to take the time to properly debrief the last few weeks as a whole and for everyone to take a well-deserved break. I think overall we can be proud of how we have started the season as a team.

"Of course, we always want to do better, and we’re still working hard on improving the car and understanding how to get the most performance out of it more consistently, and Miami will be another good test.

"Miami such a cool and vibrant city. Of course, this is the first of three home races for us this year as the only American team on the grid, so I’m very excited to experience that as a Haas driver for the first time," added the Frenchman.

"I’ve got good memories of the race here, such as 2022," recalled Ocon. "when I managed to come back and finish in eighth after starting from the back. "It’s a nice track to drive with a combination of slow-speed technical sections and fast and flowing sequences, so it's a good challenge.

"It’s another Sprint so we only have one practice session available to test and try different set-ups, so it’ll be a case of getting up to speed as soon as possible. We’re very much looking forward to getting our weekend started and we hope to put on a good show for all the passionate American fans," added Ocon.

The Miami Grand Prix debuted in 2022 and takes place at the purpose-built Miami International Autodrome, located around the Hard Rock Stadium — home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

The 5.4km circuit presents a stern challenge, blending low-, medium-, and high-speed corners with tricky off-camber sections and two long straights where overtaking opportunities exist. However, the surface’s limited year-round use means grip levels off-line can be treacherous, and mistakes are often punished heavily by the waiting walls.

For the second consecutive year, the Miami weekend will feature the Sprint format, meaning just one practice session before qualifying and the Sprint race take centre stage.

MoneyGram-backed Haas F1 Team heads into the Miami Grand Prix sixth in the Constructors’ Championship on 20 points, aiming to continue its momentum at the start of its triple-home-race season.