Esteban Ocon has confirmed that his tenure with the Haas Formula 1 team will conclude at the close of the 2026 season, a statement jointly issued by the driver and the outfit. The announcement, which arrived on a Wednesday morning, put an end to months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman at the Californian squad. In the same communiqué, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information to share regarding Ocon's successor. Although rumours have circulated that Ferrari’s junior prospect Rafael Camara, a Brazilian talent, is being considered to partner Britain’s Oliver Bearman for the 2027 season, the team has not confirmed any such arrangement yet.
Ocon took to his social‑media channels to acknowledge the decision, writing: “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.” The French driver originally moved to Haas from Alpine ahead of the 2025 season.
Since his arrival, he has frequently been out‑paced by the 21‑year‑old Bearman, who has emerged as the team’s leading performer over the two years they have shared a garage. The performance gap widened further in 2026: Bearman finished the Drivers’ Championship in 13th place with 20 points, while Ocon ended up 16th with just seven points. In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this year, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over Ocon.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed gratitude for 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.” With only eight rounds left in the 2026 calendar, the timing of the news suggests that Ocon is very likely to be without a race seat for the 2027 season. The F1 market offers few clear openings, so the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role next year.
Nevertheless, he insists that his career is far from over. “My immediate focus is the next race weekend,” Ocon added. “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 journey in Formula 1 has not been without setbacks before. After being released by Force India—later rebranded as Racing Point and ultimately Aston Martin—he spent 2019 as a reserve driver for Mercedes. He returned to the grid with Renault in 2020, staying with the team through its transition to Alpine and securing his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
During his brief stint with Haas, Ocon’s best result came early, finishing fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, his second race for the team. In 2026, his top finish was eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors for the 2027 season.
Both Bearman and the rumored replacement, Camara, are under contract with Ferrari, which supplies the team’s power units. Camara, now 21, is currently leading the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him a highly attractive prospect for a future F1 seat.
The broader F1 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 available via NOW, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option.
In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure from Haas marks the end of a short but eventful chapter in his Formula 1 career. While the immediate future may involve a temporary step back from a race seat, his determination and experience suggest that he will remain a relevant figure in the sport, whether as a reserve driver, a test driver, or potentially making a comeback with another team.
The next few months will be crucial for Ocon as he seeks to secure his place on the grid once more, while Haas prepares to integrate fresh talent and continue its partnership with Ferrari’s junior development pipeline.