Komatsu says Bearman €6m salary rumour was invented

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has dismissed the online rumour that Oliver Bearman was seeking a €6 million annual salary from the team, saying he did not know who came up with the figure.

Asked about the claim at a press conference for team principals, Komatsu said he first saw the amount on Instagram, or something similar, after someone forwarded it to him. He thought someone had invented it to stir things up.

Bearman is not yet secured for 2027, and his current contract expires after the 2026 season. Komatsu also cited a rumour that he had had a row with Esteban Ocon in Miami, which he said was false. He criticized people who copy and spread online stories without checking their sources.