Komatsu: Haas Is Not Ferrari's B-Team

Pulse Sports Team 09:22 - 17 October 2026

American outfit Haas will run two Ferrari Driver Academy graduates next season: Oliver Bearman and Formula 1 rookie Rafael Camara. While the team is a customer outfit that relies on Scuderia power units, Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has made it clear that Haas is not Ferrari's B-team in the championship.

"Our partnership with Ferrari gives us the opportunity to run drivers from the Scuderia's academy," Komatsu confirmed. "The initial steps always involve testing and free practice sessions.

"However, Ferrari has never put pressure on us or said, 'Take Bearman, he is from our academy and looking for a Formula 1 seat,' or 'Take Rafael, who is fighting for the Formula 2 title and also seeking an F1 drive.' There is nothing like that. We choose our drivers ourselves—myself and team owner Gene Haas.

"Yes, our drivers have Ferrari's backing, but in Formula 1, they race for Haas. We have no obligation to field drivers from the Ferrari Academy, and nobody forces our hand. So it is simply not true to say that Haas is Ferrari's junior team in Formula 1."