Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu delivered a blistering response to speculation surrounding Oliver Bearman's future on Friday in Mexico, dismissing reports that the young Briton's contract renewal was being held up by demands for a staggering €6 million salary as “absolute nonsense”.
With Bearman's continuation at Haas for 2027 widely expected, the absence of an official announcement has inevitably fuelled paddock speculation.
But suggestions that the 20-year-old was driving a hard bargain over his next contract clearly struck a nerve with Komatsu, who showed little patience for what he considers fabricated stories dressed up as inside information.
The Japanese team boss did not simply dismiss the reports. He questioned why anyone should give them oxygen in the first place.
Komatsu tears into €6 million salary claims
The rumours suggested Bearman was seeking a substantial pay rise, with some reports putting his desired annual salary at no less than €6 million. Komatsu was astonished by the figure and particularly irritated by the speed with which unverified claims had gained traction.
“I have no idea where that’s come from,” Komatsu said. “I've experienced this sometimes this season as well. People say there's no smoke without fire, but some people really invent a story.
“What happened in Miami about, apparently, I had an argument with Esteban Ocon, that's just absolutely zero truth in there. And even those people claiming that they had some insider information, absolute total nonsense.
©Haas
“And this this one, again, I don't know who smoked up this €6 million number. The first time I saw it on Instagram or something that Stu [Morrison, Haas head of communications] forwarded to me.
“I was just like, ‘oh, another [one] great’. Somebody came up, this is a good thing to stir the whatever up. I have no comments to make because it's just not even close to the truth. Why do we engage in such an absolute nonsense? You know, what's the point of it?
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“Before you know it, there are 20 people running the stories and they think it's the truth. It's absolute nonsense.”
Komatsu's reference to the alleged Miami confrontation with Esteban Ocon was a reminder that this was not the first time this season he had found himself confronting stories he considered entirely invented.
Bearman deal still not signed off
There is, however, one part of the situation Komatsu was unwilling to clarify: precisely why the expected agreement with Bearman – who remain affiliated with Ferrari – has yet to be formally announced.
The driver himself had suggested ahead of the weekend that the decision was “not really in my hands”. Asked directly about the delay, Komatsu declined to lift the veil on the negotiations.
"I don't think I can go into the details of what's the hold-up. I’m sorry I can't answer that question,” Komatsu said.
“But it’s very clear from both parties, from Ollie's side, our side, TGR Haas F1 Team’s side, we want to continue working together. We work really well together, push each other, most important, really enjoy working together, and he brings a lot to the team.
“We are growing together, so our our intentions from both parties are fully aligned that we're trying to find a solution to work together next year, and I'm sure we will.”
The mystery surrounding the announcement therefore remains, but if the Haas boss had one message he wanted to get across in Mexico, it was that a €6 million salary dispute was not the explanation.
And he was plainly running out of patience with anyone suggesting otherwise.
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