HAAS REGRET ERA BEGINS: EX-DRIVERS THRIVE, GENE HAAS LOOSES PATIENCE

SHANGHAI — Haas wanted a fresh start, which is usually how stories begin right before someone finds the receipt. After two promising seasons with Yisk Svensson and Pietro Pepovic, the team moved on and rolled out a new lineup of Sajiki Jones and rookie Big “Big” Johnson.

For a while, it almost worked: Jones had genuine pace and looked ready to drag Haas into victory contention only for bad strategy and one costly mistake to send him into a collision with Svensson, his freshly exported predecessor. Johnson also found himself in the thick of it, but was unable to keep his tip in front, adding another uncomfortable entry to Gene Haas’ rapidly expanding folder of concerns. Meanwhile, Pepovic did the rudest possible thing a former Haas driver can do: immediately thrive, only narrowly missing out on the win and turning his KICK Sauber debut into a podium.

Pepovic greets the fans on his cool-down lap

By Sunday night, the rumor mill was no longer whispering. It was shouting through a broken exhaust. Multiple paddock voices claimed Haas had already sounded out Svensson and Pepovic about a possible return, either as a serious attempt to undo the winter reshuffle or as the most desperate “you up?” text in recent constructor history. Gene Haas, asked whether watching his former drivers flourish in green was painful, did not exactly calm the room.

“I didn’t spend two seasons developing Sauber’s driver lineup.”

The response from the old pair was reportedly swift and cold: no interest. Not now, not after one race, and certainly not while both men are finally free from Günther Steiner’s emotional fock-smashing. Svensson has his overtaking award, Pepovic has his near-win, and Sauber suddenly has the kind of driver pairing Haas spent two seasons trying to build. As for Haas, the new lineup still has pace, promise, and just enough bloody nipples to become interesting. But China made one thing clear: sometimes a fresh start is just the old mistake returning with better branding and worse chafing.

Update — Replies

After publication, Sajiki Jones has issued a firm response to The Gonki’s reporting:

We are yet to hear from Johnson, our sources say the matter may still be too raw.