Esteban Ocon has officially announced that he will part ways with the Haas Formula 1 team at the conclusion of the 2026 season, a statement confirmed by both the driver and the organisation. The confirmation arrived on Wednesday morning, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman within the team. In the same communiqué, Haas clarified that there is no immediate news regarding Ocon's successor, despite circulating rumors that Ferrari’s junior prospect, Brazilian racer Rafael Camara, may be poised to join Britain’s rising star Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup. The team chose to keep the replacement discussion under wraps for the time being.
Ocon took to his social media platforms to share a brief farewell note: "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." His message underscored a sense of personal pride despite the challenges he faced during his stint.
The French driver made the move from Alpine to Haas for the 2025 season, but his tenure has been marked by a noticeable performance gap when compared with his younger teammate, 21‑year‑old Oliver Bearman. Over the two seasons they have shared a car, Bearman has consistently out‑scored Ocon, and the disparity widened further in 2026. By the end of the year, Bearman sat 13th in the Drivers' Championship with 20 points, while Ocon was 16th with just seven points.
In qualifying sessions throughout the season, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over Ocon, highlighting the growing competitive difference. 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." The timing of the announcement—just eight rounds away from the season finale—suggests that Ocon is likely to be without a race seat for the 2027 campaign.
With only a handful of open seats across the grid, the Frenchman may need to consider a reserve driver role or explore opportunities outside Formula 1, though he has repeatedly asserted his intention to return to the sport. "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 already seen him navigate periods without a full‑time seat.
In 2019 he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after being released by Force India—a team that later evolved into Racing Point and ultimately Aston Martin. He returned to the grid in 2020 with Renault, staying through the team's rebranding to Alpine and securing his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. During his brief time with Haas, Ocon achieved a best finish of fifth place at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, his second race for the American outfit.
In the 2026 season, his top result was an eighth‑place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, illustrating his ability to extract points even when the car was not among the front‑running machines. Looking ahead, Haas appears inclined to partner with two Ferrari‑linked drivers for 2027. Oliver Bearman is expected to remain, while the rumored replacement for Ocon, Rafael Camara, is currently a leading figure in the Formula 2 championship, holding a seven‑point advantage with two rounds left in the season.
Camara, also 21, is a Ferrari junior and his potential promotion to Haas would reinforce the existing technical partnership, as Ferrari supplies power units to the team. The broader Formula 1 calendar also brings fresh excitement, 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, offering flexible contracts and the ability to cancel at any time. In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a short but eventful chapter at Haas. While his future in Formula 1 remains uncertain, his determination and competitive spirit suggest he will continue to pursue opportunities to race at the highest level. Whether as a reserve driver, a test role, or a comeback with another team, Ocon’s ambition to remain in the sport is unmistakable, and his next moves will be closely watched by supporters and rivals alike.