While Alpine celebrates Colapinto's point in China, on the other side of the garage there's a team that got serious and made it clear they're here to stay. Ayao Komatsu, Haas team principal, came out to back his guys after leaving Red Bull behind and jumping to fourth in the constructors' standings.
The season's barely started and we already know one thing: the VF 26 came out swinging. Seventeen points on the board, Oliver Bearman sitting fifth in the drivers' championship, and just like that Haas jumped into a fight nobody saw coming. Then in China they did something wild: beat Red Bull straight up, no luck involved, no gifts from the front runners. "Today we beat Red Bull on our own merit, we were the fourth fastest team" Komatsu told Motorsport. For a guy who in Bahrain didn't think they'd even get close to those guys that's a hell of a statement. Makes you wonder though was Red Bull just having an off day or are they actually slipping because something doesn't add up when a team like Haas jumps you.
Also Komatsu kept it real: they know they're not ready to go at it with the big boys up front. But the midfield? That's a whole different game. Alpine looked like the main threat after testing but Haas outran them in the first two races flat out.
That move Colapinto put on both Haas cars in China let Gasly hang on for sixth but Bearman finishing fifth says a lot about who's running things in this part of the grid for now. Gotta remember though we're two races in and F1 flips fast but the numbers don't lie right now. We'll find out soon if this is just a hot start or something real cause if it's not the fall's gonna hurt.
Here's the thing though Haas has been here before. Ask anyone who remembers 2018: best season ever nearly hit a hundred points had the midfield in their pocket. Then inconsistency and their own mistakes messed it up and Renault now Alpine pounced. Feels like deja vu except Komatsu keeps saying this version's different new approach new mindset nothing like back then. Hard not to believe him with results like these but that old ghost's probably still hanging around the factory somewhere.
Right now it's basically a two team fight for best of the rest and Haas drew first blood. The Americans jumped out front but they're up against an Alpine squad with Colapinto and Gasly both showing bite.
The kid's already proven he'll fight for every inch and the French camp knows their car can take a punch. Long season ahead plenty can happen between now and the end but one thing's for sure these two are gonna battle down to the wire no coasting no safe plays. You just know it's going to the last race like it always does.
Komatsu's enjoying it but he's not stupid. He knows F1 glory's here today gone tomorrow and if they stop pushing they'll wake up at the back before they know it.
Message is clear though: Haas didn't show up just to fill space. They're here to fight. If Bahrain felt like a fluke China was the reality check. Now we wait and see if they can keep it going cause in this sport nothing's a given.