Esteban Ocon has confirmed that his tenure with the Haas Formula 1 team will conclude at the end of the 2026 campaign, a statement jointly issued by the driver and the outfit on Wednesday morning. The announcement arrives after months of speculation surrounding the 30‑year‑old Frenchman’s future, and it puts a definitive end to his two‑year stint with the American‑based squad. In the same press release, Haas made it clear that there will be no immediate news regarding Ocon’s successor.
While rumours have circulated that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be paired with Britain’s rising star Oliver Bearman for the 2027 season, the team has not confirmed any such arrangement yet. 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 French driver originally joined Haas from Alpine for the 2025 season, but his results have consistently been eclipsed by the 21‑year‑old Bearman, who has been his teammate throughout both campaigns. The performance gap widened noticeably 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, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over Ocon this year. 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 left in the 2026 calendar, the timing of the announcement strongly suggests that Ocon will be without a race seat for the 2027 season unless a last‑minute opportunity emerges. The F1 driver market is notoriously tight, and the Frenchman may have to consider a reserve‑driver role or a seat in a lower‑tier series to stay involved in the sport. Nevertheless, Ocon remains confident about his future, insisting that his career is far from over. “I’m focused on 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 became Racing Point and ultimately Aston Martin.
He returned to the grid in 2020 with Renault, staying for five seasons as the outfit rebranded to Alpine. During that period he captured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, a highlight that remains a defining moment in his résumé. His best result for Haas came early in his tenure, when he finished fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix – his second race with the team. In 2026 his top finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a respectable showing but still short of the podium aspirations he once held.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors for 2027. Both Bearman and the rumored replacement, Camara, are contracted to Ferrari, which supplies the team’s power units.
Camara, now 21, currently leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him a highly attractive prospect for a seat at a works‑aligned outfit like Haas. The broader F1 calendar also brings fresh excitement, as the sport returns to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can follow the action live via Sky Sports F1 or stream through NOW, with flexible cancellation options available. In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter with Haas.
While his future in Formula 1 remains uncertain, his determination and past achievements suggest he will continue to seek opportunities to showcase his talent on the world stage.