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 a prolonged period of speculation surrounding the 30‑year‑old Frenchman's future, with rumours swirling for months about whether he would remain with the American‑based squad beyond the current year.
In the same communiqué, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information regarding Ocon's successor, despite circulating reports that Ferrari’s junior programme may be preparing to promote Brazilian talent Rafael Camara to partner the team’s other young driver, Britain’s Oliver Bearman, for the following season. The team chose to keep the details of the upcoming driver line‑up under wraps for the time being.
Ocon took to his personal 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 Frenchman made the move from Alpine to Haas for the 2025 season, but during the two years they have shared a garage, the younger British driver, 21‑year‑old Oliver Bearman, has consistently out‑paced him.
The performance gap widened noticeably in 2026, with Bearman sitting 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points, while Ocon found himself down in 16th place with just seven points. In qualifying, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over Ocon across the season, underscoring the widening 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 strongly suggests that Ocon is unlikely to secure a race‑seat for 2027. The F1 driver market is tight, and without a clear vacancy, the Frenchman may have to settle for a reserve‑driver role or explore opportunities in other series.
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 path in top‑level motorsport has already seen a few twists. After being released by Force India (the outfit that later became Racing Point and ultimately Aston Martin) he spent 2019 as a reserve driver for Mercedes. He returned to the grid in 2020 with Renault, staying for five seasons as the team rebranded to Alpine.
During that period he achieved his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, a highlight that cemented his reputation as a capable front‑runner. While at Haas, Ocon’s best result came early in his stint, a fifth‑place finish at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. In 2026 his top performance was an eighth‑place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a respectable but modest showing compared with his teammate’s consistent points hauls.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to align more closely with Ferrari’s junior development pipeline. Both Bearman and the anticipated replacement for Ocon, Rafael Camara, are linked to the Italian manufacturer, which supplies the team’s power units. Camara, currently 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him a strong candidate for promotion to F1.
The broader F1 calendar also brings fresh excitement, as the sport returns to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter with Haas. While his future seat remains uncertain, his determination and track record suggest he will continue to pursue opportunities within the sport, whether as a primary driver, a reserve, or perhaps a role in testing and development.
The next few races will be crucial for both Ocon and Haas as they aim to finish the season strongly while planning for a new driver line‑up in 2027.