Esteban Ocon has confirmed that his tenure with the Haas Formula One team will conclude at the end of the 2026 championship, a statement jointly announced by the driver and the outfit. The news broke on Wednesday morning, putting 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 news regarding his successor. Although rumours have circulated that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be paired with Britain’s rising star Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup, the team has not made any official announcement at this stage.
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 joined Haas from Alpine ahead of the 2025 campaign. Since then, he has frequently been outshone by his younger teammate, 21‑year‑old Oliver Bearman, across both seasons they have shared. The performance gap widened further in 2026, with Bearman finishing 13th in the Drivers' Championship with 20 points, while Ocon slipped to 16th place with just seven points.
In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this year, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑4 advantage over Ocon. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed his gratitude, 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 announcement suggests Ocon is unlikely to secure a race seat for the 2027 season. The F1 market offers few clear openings, meaning the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role next year. Nevertheless, he remains confident that his Formula One 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 career has already seen him navigate periods without a full‑time seat. 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 the grid with Renault in 2020, spending five seasons with the outfit as it rebranded to Alpine. During that stint he secured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
His most notable result with Haas arrived early in his tenure, when he finished fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix – his best finish for the American squad. In the 2026 season his top performance was an eighth‑place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors for 2027. Both Oliver Bearman and the anticipated replacement, Rafael Camara, are under contract with Ferrari, which supplies power units to the team. Camara, currently 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him a highly regarded prospect for a future F1 seat. The broader Formula One calendar will see the sport return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW, offering flexible, contract‑free viewing. In summary, Esteban Ocon's departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter at Haas. While his future in the sport remains uncertain, his statements reflect a determined mindset and a belief that his journey in Formula One will continue, whether behind the wheel or in a supporting role. The upcoming season will be pivotal for both Ocon and the Haas team as they chart new directions amid evolving driver line‑ups and regulatory landscapes.