Haas boss, Ayao Komatsu, has hit out at sections of the media following a number of reports about his relationship with Esteban Ocon.

Komatsu, who had at one point considered a career in investigative journalism, hit out following reports from 'journos' on three continents of a massive row with Ocon in Miami that placed his future with the American team in doubt, whilst suggesting that Yuki Tsunoda would be brought in to partner Oliver Bearman.

Talking to reporters in Miami, the usually calm Japanese was almost apoplectic as he rubbished the claims, using the sort of language that would get him heavily fined at an FIA press conference.

"Honestly I don't know where that story came from, no idea," he began. "This Brazilian journalist was quoted, but I have no idea, no foundation whatsoever, absolute bulls***.

"If somebody wants to write that kind of bulls*** feel free," he continued, "but f****** hell, is that journalism? I have no idea, it's terrible.

"What are they trying to achieve? It's crazy, no foundation whatsoever. Have any of you heard me saying anything like that? It's incredible."

As previously reported, Ocon has also dismissed the claims, confirming that he and Komatsu had enjoyed a friendly chat on arrival in Canada.

"I spoke to him this morning," said the Japanese, "but for me there's like nothing to defend from our side whatsoever. So, the part of it, it says apparently I had like some issue with Esteban in Miami.

"Where's that come from? I didn't even have a single argument with Esteban in Miami. It's just amazing how completely this bulls*** gets smoked up, and then, because nobody checks the source, everybody just writes on top of it. How is that journalism? It's just f****** bulls***, gossip!"

Understandably, the reports had repercussions, and not just in terms of fans of the driver and his team on social media.

"Esteban gets worried, his manager gets worried," said Komatsu. "Esteban knows that we haven't had any argument in Miami, at least a specific thing. This morning we were smiling and talked about it. What the f*** is that about? So I said I'm going to just completely clarify this to everyone, because it's absolute utter sh**, total bulls***. It' just something we don't need, right?"

Referring to the Tsunoda aspect of the claims, he said: "I think it gets written in Japanese. I haven't actually read what this Brazilian journalist wrote, so Japanese translation, how inaccurate is it? I have no idea. And also, like, lots of Japanese sites, they really want to create s***, like, I'd like to take Yuki or something. That's got zero foundation.

"So I don't take any notice. But then some French journalists pick it up. It's like, f****** hell, if you're a French journalist, what you trying to do to your country's driver by picking up stories like trying to get some traction? Are you trying to put your French driver down? It's like, what is the purpose? It's just bulls***!

"When I was a kid I wanted to be an investigative journalist," he sighed. "So, when I read things like it's like f****** hell, are you not embarrassed about what you're writing? By writing bulls*** like this with no foundation, you lose credibility completely right. Any media runs that kind of bulls*** story loses credibility in my mind anyway. It's not even like twisting my words. There's zero facts, nothing to do with what I said, because I didn't say any of that. It's incredible."

So we'll take that as a no then, Ayao.