Esteban Ocon has announced that he will part ways with the Haas Formula 1 team once the 2026 season concludes, a decision that has been confirmed by both the driver and the outfit. The news broke on Wednesday morning, ending weeks of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman at the Californian squad.
Alongside the confirmation of Ocon's exit, Haas clarified that there is no immediate update regarding his successor, despite circulating rumors that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be set to join Britain’s 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 channels to address the situation, stating: "My tenure with Haas F1 Team will finish 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 statement underscored a sense of personal pride despite the challenges he faced throughout the year.
The French driver made the move to Haas from Alpine for the 2025 season, but over the two years he has been out‑paced by the 21‑year‑old Bearman. The performance gap widened further in 2026, with Bearman sitting 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points, while Ocon languished in 16th place with just seven points.
In qualifying, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑4 advantage over Ocon, highlighting a clear disparity in single‑lap speed. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed gratitude, 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 remaining in the 2026 calendar, the timing of the announcement suggests that Ocon is unlikely to secure a full‑time seat for the following year. The F1 market offers few clear vacancies, meaning the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role in 2027 if he wishes to stay within the paddock. Nonetheless, Ocon remains confident that his Formula 1 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." This is not the first occasion Ocon has found himself without a race seat.
In 2019 he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after his departure from Force India, a team that later morphed into Racing Point and eventually Aston Martin. He made a comeback to the grid in 2020 with Renault, spending five seasons with the outfit as it rebranded to Alpine, and celebrated his sole Grand Prix triumph at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. During his brief stint with Haas, Ocon’s most notable result arrived in his second race for the team, a fifth‑place finish at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix.
In the 2026 season, his best finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a modest but respectable showing given the competitiveness of the field. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked drivers in 2027. Both Bearman and the anticipated replacement, Camara, are currently under contract with Ferrari, which supplies the power units to the American team.
Camara, aged 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with only two rounds left, making him a highly attractive prospect for Haas. The broader Formula 1 calendar will see the sport return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, as the Bahrain Grand Prix moves to the Sepang International Circuit. Fans can catch live coverage on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW for those who prefer an online subscription. In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure from Haas marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter in his career.
While the immediate future remains uncertain, his determination, experience, and proven ability to deliver solid performances suggest that opportunities—whether as a reserve driver or a full‑time seat—could still materialise. The next few races will be crucial for both Ocon and Haas as they strive to finish the 2026 season on a high note, while the team begins to shape its driver lineup for the upcoming era.