Esteban Ocon has confirmed that he will part ways with the Haas Formula 1 team at the conclusion of the 2026 season, a statement jointly issued by the driver and the outfit. The announcement arrived on Wednesday morning, ending months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman within the American squad. Alongside the confirmation of Ocon’s exit, Haas clarified that there is no immediate news regarding his successor. Rumours have suggested that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be paired with Britain’s Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup, but the team stopped short of any official confirmation.
In a post on his social platforms, 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 to Haas from Alpine for the 2025 season, yet throughout his two‑year stint he has been consistently out‑performed 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 up 16th with just seven points. In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this year, Bearman held a 10‑4 advantage over his teammate.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed 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 news suggests Ocon is unlikely to secure a race‑seat for the following year. Few clear openings exist on the grid, meaning the French driver may have to accept a reserve‑driver role in 2027. Nevertheless, he insists his Formula 1 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.” This is not Ocon’s first brush with a seatless period.
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 eventually Aston Martin. He returned to the grid with Renault in 2020, spending five seasons with the outfit as it rebranded to Alpine, and achieved his sole Grand Prix win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. His most notable result for Haas came early in his tenure, when he finished fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. In 2026 his best finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors in 2027, with Bearman likely staying and Camara—currently leading the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds to go—expected to join the team. Camara, 21, is already contracted to Ferrari, which supplies Haas with its power units. The broader F1 calendar also features a return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, as the series heads to the Sepang International Circuit for the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free experience. Overall, Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter with Haas. While his future seat remains uncertain, his determination and experience suggest he will remain a valuable asset within the sport, whether as a reserve driver, a test driver, or potentially back in a race seat should an opportunity arise.