Esteban Ocon has announced that his tenure with the Haas Formula 1 team will conclude at the close of the 2026 season, a statement confirmed jointly by the driver and the outfit. The news, which broke on Wednesday morning, finally puts an end to months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman within the organization. Alongside the confirmation of Ocon’s exit, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information regarding his successor.
Rumours have circulated that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be poised to join British youngster Oliver Bearman as the team’s next driver line‑up for the 2027 season, but the team has not made any official announcement. In a personal post on social media, Ocon wrote: “My time with Haas F1 Team will come to an end at the end of the 2026 season. 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.” Ocon made the move from Alpine to Haas for the 2025 season, but throughout his two‑year stint he has been consistently out‑paced by the 21‑year‑old Bearman.
The performance gap widened further in 2026, with Bearman finishing 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points, while Ocon ended the year in 16th place with just seven points. In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this season, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over his teammate.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised Ocon’s contributions, stating: “I’d like to thank Esteban for everything he’s contributed to the team since joining us in 2025. His professionalism and commitment have proved valuable as we continue to grow as an organisation.
Together this year we tackled the challenge of a major regulation change, where Esteban’s driving experience and inputs were significant as we’ve worked hard to develop the VF‑26 across the season. There’s still plenty of racing ahead, and our focus remains on working together to maximise every opportunity through to the final race of the year.” The timing of the announcement – with only eight rounds left in the 2026 calendar – strongly suggests that Ocon will be without a race seat for the 2027 season. With limited openings on the grid, the French driver may have to accept a reserve‑driver role next year, although he has repeatedly insisted that his Formula 1 career is far from over.
He added: “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. This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career.” Ocon’s career has seen similar setbacks before.
In 2019 he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after being released by Force India – a team that later evolved into Racing Point and subsequently Aston Martin. He returned to a race seat with Renault in 2020, spending five seasons with the outfit as it rebranded to Alpine, and achieved his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
His most notable result for Haas arrived early in his tenure, when he secured a fifth‑place finish at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, his second race with the team. In 2026 his best finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Looking ahead, Haas appears set to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors in 2027. Both Bearman and the anticipated replacement, Camara, are currently contracted to Ferrari, which supplies the team’s power units.
Camara, 21, is leading the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, positioning him as a strong candidate for the seat. The broader Formula 1 calendar continues to evolve, with the sport returning to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW, offering flexible contracts and cancellation at any time. Overall, Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter with Haas. While his future in the premier class remains uncertain, his determination and experience suggest he will continue to seek opportunities within the sport, whether as a reserve driver, a test driver, or potentially a full‑time seat should a vacancy arise. The coming months will be crucial for both Ocon and Haas as they navigate the final races of 2026 and plan their strategies for the 2027 season and beyond.