Esteban Ocon has confirmed that his tenure with the Haas Formula 1 team will conclude at the end of the 2026 season, a statement jointly issued by the driver and the outfit. The announcement, which arrived on Wednesday morning, put an end to months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman within the organization. Alongside the confirmation of Ocon’s exit, Haas clarified that there is no immediate update regarding his successor. Rumours have circulated that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be earmarked to join Britain’s Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup, but the team stopped short of any official confirmation.
Ocon took to his social‑media channels to express his thoughts: “My time with Haas F1 Team will come to an end at the close 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 for the 2025 season, but over the two years he has been outshone by the 21‑year‑old Bearman. The performance gap widened in 2026, with Bearman finishing 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points, while Ocon ended up 16th with just seven points. In qualifying, Bearman also enjoyed a clear advantage, winning ten of the fourteen head‑to‑head sessions against Ocon.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu praised Ocon’s contributions, saying, “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, Ocon’s departure raises the likelihood that he will be without a full‑time race seat for the 2027 season.
The F1 market is tight, and the Frenchman may have to settle for a reserve‑driver role if a permanent seat does not materialise. Nevertheless, Ocon remains confident 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 path has already seen him sit out a seat before. In 2019 he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after being released by Force India, a team that later morphed into 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 secured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. His best finish for Haas came early in his stint, a fifth‑place result at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.
In 2026 his top performance was an eighth‑place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, demonstrating that while he remained competitive, the team’s overall package struggled to match the front‑running machinery. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked juniors for 2027. Both Bearman and the anticipated replacement, Camara, are currently part of Ferrari’s driver development programme, which also supplies the American team with its power units. Camara, 21, is leading the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two races left, suggesting he could be a strong candidate for a full‑time F1 seat.
The announcement comes as Formula 1 prepares to return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled at the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can catch live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available via NOW. The upcoming races will be Ocon’s final opportunities to showcase his skill in a Haas car, and the season’s closing chapters promise to be a decisive period for both driver and team as they look toward a new era beyond 2026.