Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has been impressed with Oli Behrmann’s ability to adapt to category and regulation changes, comparing him to Max Verstappen.
The 2026 regulations have sparked criticism within the paddock. Verstappen has been particularly outspoken, even saying he might quit the sport because of them.
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Haas made the transition brilliantly. Bellman is eighth in the drivers’ championship with 17 points and the team is sixth in the constructors’ championship, having already exceeded pre-season expectations.
Bellman did suffer a serious crash at Suzuka after being caught by the closing pace of Franco Colapinto, which highlighted some of the challenges posed by the new rules. He hasn’t scored in his past two games but has shown steady improvement overall.
“It was never really a problem for me,” Komatsu told Sky Sports F1. “His speed is just amazing in terms of being able to adapt to different situations and conditions.”
Komatsu added: “I haven’t seen this level of adaptability in my career not since Max Verstappen.”
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Ayao Komatsu says Olibelmann and Max Verstappen have ‘amazing’ ability to adapt
The 21-year-old has shown a willingness to adapt throughout his career, including adjusting his driving style to take on Verstappen in Mexico last year, where he finished fourth – a career-best finish at the time.
Speaking to Essential F1, Komatsu explained that Behrmann didn’t see the new regulations as a problem because he was used to changing machinery every season. Like Verstappen, his experience working in the simulator helps him stay on top.
“One of the really interesting things Ollie said to me before the season started was, ‘I’m looking at this as a completely different formula this year,'” Komatsu said.
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“But it’s not a problem for me,” because every year, from karting to Formula 4 to Formula 3, from Formula 2 to Formula 1, almost every year he changes a category.
“So, as you said, 25 years, he did F1, let’s say the first edition, and 26 years, F1 second edition. And those younger generations, they adapted very quickly.
“All these switches on the steering wheel, their generation, gaming generation… Ollie [is] So much about sim racing. I think guys like Ollie, Gabriel Bortoletto, Max, they’ve been playing simulation games all their time, so those guys adapted very, very quickly.
“I mean, it doesn’t mean that Esteban is too slow to adapt. Esteban, again, with his work ethic and attention to detail, he really fits into this type of formula and gets the best out of it. But in terms of adaptability, these young guys are amazing.”
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