Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, capping a two-year stint with the American-owned team.
Haas Splits With Esteban Ocon as 2026 Season Nears Completion
Formula 1 experienced a major shift ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix when Esteban Ocon confirmed his departure from Haas upon the expiration of his contract. The decision closes a two-year chapter that began when team principal Ayao Komatsu signed the experienced Frenchman ahead of the 2025 campaign, marking the squad’s first acquisition of a proven race winner.
The French driver is currently working to preserve his presence in Formula 1 following the announcement from Haas that they will part ways with him at the conclusion of the campaign. Ocon, who won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix for Alpine, joined Haas in 2025. Having made his Grand Prix debut nine years ago in 2016, his career also features spells racing for both Manor and Force India.
The 30-year-old’s departure was officially verified on Wednesday morning, putting an end to several months of rumors regarding his long-term prospects with the organization. Alongside confirming Ocon’s impending exit, the squad indicated that announcements regarding his successor are not imminent, despite widespread reports connecting Brazilian Ferrari academy driver Rafael Camara to a drive alongside Britain’s Oliver Bearman for the upcoming campaign. Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ocon labeled himself a “free agent” while disclosing that negotiations are underway with alternative F1 outfits regarding potential drives for the 2027 championship.
Ocon entered the garage with high expectations following eight seasons of experience that included stints with Manor, Force India, Racing Point, and Alpine. When Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu secured Esteban Ocon for the 2025 roster, it represented a significant milestone for the American constructor, as it marked the first time they employed a race winner. Komatsu held the Frenchman in high regard, having previously served as his race engineer during his inaugural F1 test with Lotus back in 2012, and believed he would propel Haas forward in their ambition to solidify themselves as a consistent midfield contender capable of regularly scoring points.
Although Ocon managed to secure points on multiple occasions throughout the year, he ultimately concluded the championship standings behind highly praised newcomer Ollie Bearman, prompting Komatsu to acknowledge that the organization held higher expectations for his 2025 output.
Performance Gaps Against Rookie Team-Mate Oliver Bearman
The catalyst behind the team’s decision rests on a widening performance gap between Ocon and his younger garage partner, Oliver Bearman. Ocon has been outperformed by team-mate Oliver Bearman since joining forces with Haas last year. Bearman launched the current campaign in formidable fashion by securing seventh position in Australia followed by fifth in China, whereas Ocon found it difficult to establish any consistent momentum. By the time he finally got in the groove, Haas had dropped down the pecking order and were no longer in contention for points. With Ocon falling short of expectations, Haas began to consider life without him.
The Frenchman currently trails his garage partner Oliver Bearman by an 18-3 margin in the points tally this year, with a ninth-place finish at the Monaco Grand Prix marking his highest result. He defended his record Wednesday, saying my performance hasn't been an issue this year
as Haas dealt with an inconsistent car. Across his tenure with Haas, the French competitor has secured 12 points-scoring results, highlighted by a fifth-place performance at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.
Ocon Vows to Fight for an F1 Return Despite 2027 Grid Uncertainty
There are no obvious berths for Ocon on the grid in 2027 but he insisted: This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career.
The 30-year-old added in a statement on social media: “I leave this project with my head held high and proud of my performances in what were not always the easiest of circumstances for various reasons and factors outside of my control. My immediate focus is the next race weekend. I will continue to work hard with the team, maximise every opportunity, and keep extracting every bit of performance from the car. There are still many races to go this season and, as always, I will give it my everything behind the wheel for myself and for my team. I am still motivated. I am still hungry.”
Esteban Ocon said Wednesday he is definitely a free agent
for the 2027 Formula 1 season as an exit from the Haas team appears likely. With his second year at Haas drawing to a close, Ocon mentioned that he is currently engaged in discussions with other squads. At the moment I’m definitely a free agent for next year,
Ocon said ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. There are things in discussion that are out of my control, there are certain topics that are out of my control. I will keep pushing until the end of the year and see how it goes.
Asked if he was speaking with other teams, Ocon added: “Of course.”
This scenario mirrors Ocon’s career path in the past. Having made his grand prix debut in 2016 and secured his maiden and only grand prix victory with Alpine in 2021, the French racer has previously experienced exits from the starting grid. Following his replacement at Racing Point at the conclusion of 2018, he spent the subsequent year serving as a reserve driver for Mercedes before securing a drive with Alpine ahead of the 2020 championship.
Ferrari Junior Rafael Camara Emerges as Frontrunner for the Haas Seat
As Ocon prepares for his exit, Haas evaluates its options for 2027. The team ran several TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) sessions. Rafael Camara is the favourite to replace Esteban Ocon at Haas in Formula 1 next year. The French veteran is slated to depart the American outfit once his current agreement concludes at the finish of the ongoing racing calendar. Last year saw the 30-year-old narrowly outpaced by rookie stablemate Ollie Bearman, but the competitive margin separating the two drivers has grown significantly more pronounced throughout this challenging 2026 campaign.
The 21-year-old Brazilian racer currently occupies the runner-up position in the Formula 2 championship standings during his debut year in the series. He has enjoyed a remarkable progression through junior single-seater divisions, capturing the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship crown prior to securing the Formula 3 title at his first attempt.