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 on Wednesday morning. The announcement arrives after months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the year. In the same communiqué, Haas clarified that there is no immediate news regarding Ocon’s successor, despite circulating rumors that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara is being positioned to join British youngster Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup.
The team, however, chose to keep the details of any potential replacement 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 emphasized that, despite a challenging year, he remains satisfied with the effort he has put in and the progress made under difficult conditions. The Frenchman joined Haas from Alpine for the 2025 season, but throughout their two‑year partnership he has consistently been out‑paced by the 21‑year‑old Bearman.
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 season, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over Ocon, underscoring the growing disparity between the two teammates.
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 that Ocon is unlikely to secure a race seat for the following year.
The Formula 1 market offers few clear openings, and the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role for 2027. Nevertheless, Ocon remains resolute that his F1 career is far from over. "My immediate focus is the next race weekend," he 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 face similar setbacks. In 2019 he served as Mercedes’ reserve driver after being released by Force India – a team that later became 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 secured 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 an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a modest but respectable showing given the car’s limitations and the intense competition. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors in 2027.
Both Bearman and the rumored replacement Camara are currently under contract with Ferrari, the supplier of Haas’s power units. Camara, who is 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him an attractive prospect for the American team. The broader Formula 1 calendar also features notable events, such as the return of the sport to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW without a long‑term contract. 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 to stay in the sport, combined with his experience and proven resilience, suggest that he will continue to find opportunities within the Formula 1 ecosystem, whether as a reserve driver, a test driver, or potentially a full‑time race seat should circumstances align. The next few months will be crucial for Ocon as he aims to finish the 2026 season strongly and keep his name at the forefront of any team looking for a seasoned and hungry driver.