Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has furiously dismissed reports claiming that contract extension talks with Oliver Bearman are being held up by the British driver demanding a £5m annual salary.
Both Bearman and Komatsu have expressed confidence in recent weeks that a deal will be done to extend the 21-year-old’s current contract, which expires at the end of the 2026 season.
With Haas having already announced the signing of Bearman’s fellow Ferrari junior Rafael Camara to replace Esteban Ocon next season, the lack of confirmation on his own future has led to speculation over what the issues are that are holding up the deal.
Asked on Friday at the Mexico City Grand Prix about claims that Bearman’s financial demands are the main sticking point, Komatsu said: “I have no idea where that comes from.
“I’ve experienced this sometimes this season as well. People say there’s no smoke without fire but really some people will invent a story.
“What happened in Miami? Apparently, I had an argument with (Bearman’s team-mate) Esteban Ocon. There’s just absolutely zero truth in it and even those people claiming that they had some insider information etc, absolute total nonsense.
“This one again I don’t know who smoked up this six-million euros number. The first time I saw it on Instagram, or Stu [Morrison, Haas press officer] forwarded it to me, and I was just like, ‘oh another great… somebody has come up and stirred up whatever’.
“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? What’s the point of it?
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Sky Sports’ Craig Slater meets Rafael Camara, Esteban Ocon’s Haas replacement for 2027
“Those people clearly are not trying to help anything right? It’s amazing these days that people don’t check the source.
“So, ok I want to get some more clicks, I want to get some more likes, so they copy and paste those stories and keep running with it, then before you know it, like 20 people are running the stories that they think it’s a truth. It’s absolute nonsense.”
‘We want to grow together’
While Komatsu refused to reveal the details that are preventing an agreement from being reached, he insisted the team “want to grow together” with Bearman.
“I don’t like to go into the details of our contract,” Komatsu said. “Ollie is showing amazing potential. He contributed a lot and he’s contributing a lot to the team’s success.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Komatsu denies Haas are a Ferrari B team after Ferrari junior driver Camara signs alongside Bearman
“We want to grow together, we want to move up the grid as a team, so first and foremost we need a competitive car.
“2027 is not going to be the easy challenge because 2026 we made a mistake, so that’s paying the price for 2027 as well.
“Our focus is really to maximise everything under control, so really trying to roll out a competitive 2027 car and then hopefully we’ll have Ollie driving as well and then take it from there.”
Bearman: Timing not in my hands
Bearman remains attached to Ferrari having come through the team’s junior programme, and has made no secret of his desire to earn a seat with the Italian squad.
However, he insists that while a seat at Ferrari – or one of F1’s other established top teams – remains out of reach, he is keen to continue his F1 journey with Haas.
Speaking on Thursday in Mexico, Bearman said. “I think it’s very clear. I want to continue with Haas. That’s definitely my goal.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Bearman was reduced to tears after driving Ayrton Senna’s 1985 Lotus 97T, the car Senna drove to his first-ever Formula 1 victory
“There are a few things in the background that we’re working on, but it’s been very clear that continuing with Haas will be my target, and we’re just finalising a few things on that front.”
Asked about the delay, Bearman insisted that a deal would have been finalised by this point if it was up to him.
“It’s not really in my hands, I can tell you that,” he added.
“If it was up to me, it would have already been announced a long time ago.
“But there are a few bigger-picture things that we’re working on.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Mexico City GP schedule
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Mexico City Grand Prix
Saturday October 31
5.15pm: Mexico City Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm)
8pm: Mexico City Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
9pm: MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday November 1
5pm: F1 Academy Race 3
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Mexico City GP build-up
8pm: THE MEXICO CITY GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: Mexico City GP reaction
11pm: Ted’s Notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1 next heads south for the second leg of The Americas triple-header with the Mexico City Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
