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 rumour and speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman, whose contract has now officially reached its terminus.
In the same communiqué, Haas clarified that there is no immediate news regarding Ocon’s successor. Although circulating reports have suggested that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be earmarked to join Britain’s rising star Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup, the team has chosen to keep any formal decision 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 made the move from Alpine to Haas ahead of the 2025 season, but his stint has been consistently eclipsed by the meteoric rise of 21‑year‑old Oliver Bearman. Across their two shared seasons, Bearman has regularly out‑performed Ocon, a trend that intensified in 2026.
At the conclusion of the current year, Bearman sits 13th in the Drivers’ Championship with 20 points, whereas Ocon occupies 16th place with just seven points. The head‑to‑head qualifying record further underscores the disparity, with Bearman holding a 10‑4 advantage over Ocon this season.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu offered his gratitude to Ocon, 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. The F1 market offers limited openings, and the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role should a full‑time contract not materialise.
Nevertheless, Ocon remains resolute about his future, insisting that his 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 a similar interruption. 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 the following year with Renault, staying for five seasons as the outfit rebranded to Alpine.
During that period he secured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. His most notable result for Haas arrived early in his tenure, when he finished fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix—his second race with the American team. In the current season his best finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked drivers in 2027. Oliver Bearman is expected to remain, while Rafael Camara, the 21‑year‑old who currently leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, is projected to step into the vacant seat. Camara’s affiliation with Ferrari, the supplier of Haas’s power units, strengthens the likelihood of his promotion.
Beyond the team news, the Formula 1 calendar will head to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming available via NOW for those who prefer a contract‑free option.
In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter with Haas. While his immediate future remains uncertain, his determination to return to the front row of the sport is unmistakable.
The coming months will reveal whether he secures a new race‑seat, adopts a reserve role, or perhaps explores opportunities outside of Formula 1, but his commitment to competing at the highest level endures.