Esteban Ocon has confirmed that his tenure with the Haas Formula 1 team will conclude at the end of the 2026 season, a statement jointly issued by the driver and the outfit. The announcement, which arrived on Wednesday morning, puts an end to months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman within the organization.
In the same release, Haas made it clear that there would be no immediate update regarding Ocon’s successor, despite circulating rumors that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be earmarked to join Britain’s Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup. The team chose to keep the replacement discussion under wraps for the time being.
Ocon took to his personal social‑media channels to acknowledge the news, 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 made the move from Alpine to Haas ahead of the 2025 season, but over the two years he has been out‑performed by the 21‑year‑old Bearman.
The performance gap widened further in 2026, with Bearman sitting 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points, while Ocon was down at 16th 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 gratitude toward Ocon, 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 remaining in the 2026 calendar, the timing of the announcement suggests Ocon is unlikely to secure a race‑seat for the 2027 season. Opportunities on the grid appear limited, and the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role next year.
Nevertheless, he remains confident that 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.” 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 morphed into Racing Point and ultimately Aston Martin. He returned to the grid with Renault in 2020, spending five seasons with the outfit as it rebranded to Alpine. During that period he secured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
His most notable result with Haas came early in his stint, finishing fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. In the 2026 season his best finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, demonstrating that he could still extract points even when the car was not among the front‑runners. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors for 2027.
Both Bearman and the prospective replacement, Camara, are currently contracted to Ferrari, the power‑unit supplier for Haas. Camara, who is 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds left, making him an attractive prospect for the American team. The broader Formula 1 calendar also brings excitement, with the sport returning to Malaysia for the first time since 2017.
The Bahrain Grand Prix will be staged at the Sepang International Circuit, offering fans a fresh backdrop for the remaining races. Live coverage will be available on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options through NOW for those who prefer an online subscription. In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter at Haas.
While his future seat remains uncertain, his determination and professionalism have left a positive imprint on the team. As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on his final performances and the next steps he takes to remain a fixture in the world’s premier motorsport series.