Ollie Bearman qualified 16th for the Canadian Grand Prix after Haas struggled to adapt its new sidepods and floor to the bumpy Montreal circuit. The updates aimed to boost downforce but left the VF-26 difficult to drive. Bearman started the sprint from the pitlane following set-up changes.
Bearman described the weekend as a constant search for balance. He said the team had been chasing its tail and found qualifying the first session where he could push the car to the limit without major issues like front locking. The Briton noted the new package offered potential performance but created challenging characteristics on the circuit's bumps and curbs.