Esteban Ocon has confirmed that he will part ways with the Haas Formula 1 team once the 2026 season draws to a close, a statement jointly issued by the driver and the outfit on Wednesday morning. The announcement arrives after several months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman, whose contract runs until the end of the current calendar year. In the same release, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information to share regarding his successor.
Rumours have circulated that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be earmarked to join British youngster Oliver Bearman for the 2027 season, but the team stopped short of confirming any such deal. 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 switched to Haas from Alpine for the 2025 season, but throughout his two‑year stint 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, whereas Ocon ended up 16th with just seven points. In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this year, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over his teammate. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised 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 remaining in the 2026 calendar, Ocon’s departure signals that he is unlikely to secure a full‑time seat for the 2027 season. The F1 market is tight, and without a clear vacancy he may have to settle for a reserve‑driver role next year.
Nevertheless, Ocon insists his career is far from over. "My immediate focus is the next race weekend," he said. "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 path in Formula 1 has already seen him experience both setbacks and triumphs.
After being released by Force India (later Racing Point and now Aston Martin) he served as Mercedes' reserve driver in 2019. He returned to the grid with Renault in 2020, staying with the team through its rebranding to Alpine, and captured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. His best finish for Haas came early in his tenure, when he secured fifth place at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. In the 2026 season his top result was an eighth‑place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors for 2027. Both Bearman and the rumored replacement Camara are tied to the Italian manufacturer, which supplies the team’s power units.
Camara, currently 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two races left, making him a highly attractive prospect for the American outfit. 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 live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW.