ESTEBAN OCON TO LEAVE HAAS AT THE END OF THE 2026 SEASON
Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Haas has officially confirmed that the French driver will not remain with the team for 2027, ending his two-year spell with the American outfit. The team has not officially announced his replacement yet, although Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara is widely reported to be the leading candidate.
Ocon joined Haas for the 2025 season after five years with Renault and Alpine. He arrived alongside Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman, who is expected to remain with the team for 2027. Ocon’s Haas contract will therefore end after the 2026 season, with the Frenchman now looking for another opportunity in Formula 1.
The decision comes after a difficult 2026 season for Ocon. Before the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, he had scored only three points and had already confirmed that he was a free agent for 2027. He also said that discussions with other teams were taking place, while insisting that his goal remained to continue in Formula 1.
Ocon responded strongly in Baku. After starting 13th, he finished eighth and scored four points, his best result of the season at that time. He also finished ahead of Bearman, who took ninth, giving Haas a double points finish.
After the race, Ocon spoke openly about his situation and defended his record. “I’ve won in every championship that I’ve raced in,” he said, pointing to victories and titles in categories including Formula Renault, karting, Formula 3, GP3 and Formula 1. He added: “I deserve better than what’s happening right now.”
Ocon also said that he believes he is still capable of competing at the highest level. “I’m one of the best out there, and I’m not afraid to say it,” he said after his Baku result. He has one Formula 1 victory, achieved with Alpine at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, and three other podium finishes.
Rafael Câmara has emerged as the main candidate for Ocon’s Haas seat. The Brazilian is part of the Ferrari Driver Academy and has been competing in Formula 2 in 2026 after winning the Formula 3 title in 2025. Haas also tested Câmara, Leonardo Fornaroli and Ryo Hirakawa in its Testing of Previous Cars programme as part of its evaluation for the 2027 line-up.
Haas had previously said that it had not made a decision on Ocon’s future. Team Principal Ayao Komatsu said on the Thursday of the Azerbaijan weekend that the team expected to make its decision within a few weeks. The latest confirmation of Ocon’s departure now settles the situation for the Frenchman, but Haas has still not formally named his replacement.
Ocon’s next destination is still unclear. Reports have linked him with a possible move to the FIA World Endurance Championship and Toyota’s factory programme, with the connection between Haas and Toyota providing a possible link. Haas became the TGR Haas F1 Team in 2026 after Toyota Gazoo Racing expanded its technical and title partnership with the team.
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