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 announced by the driver and the outfit. The news, which arrived on Wednesday morning, puts an end to months of speculation surrounding the 30‑year‑old Frenchman’s future within the squad. In the same communiqué, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information regarding Ocon’s successor, despite circulating rumors that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be earmarked to join British youngster Oliver Bearman for the following year.
The team chose to keep the replacement discussion under wraps for the time being. Ocon took to his 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 made the move from Alpine to Haas for the 2025 season, but his results have consistently been eclipsed by the meteoric rise of 21‑year‑old Oliver Bearman. Across their two shared seasons, Bearman has out‑performed Ocon in both qualifying and race finishes, a trend that has only widened in 2026.
At the time of the announcement, Bearman sat 13th in the Drivers’ Championship with 20 points, while Ocon was 16th with just seven points, and Bearman held a 10‑to‑4 advantage in head‑to‑head qualifying battles during the year. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu expressed his gratitude, 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, Ocon’s departure suggests he is unlikely to secure a full‑time seat for 2027.
The F1 market offers few clear openings, meaning the Frenchman may need to consider a reserve‑driver role or a testing position while he continues to hunt for a race seat. Nevertheless, Ocon remains confident that his Formula 1 journey is far from over.
He added, “My immediate focus is the next race weekend. 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 setback. After being released by Force India (later Racing Point and now Aston Martin) he spent 2019 as a reserve driver for Mercedes. He returned to the grid in 2020 with Renault, staying through the team’s rebranding to Alpine, and achieved his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. During his brief stint with Haas, Ocon’s highlight came early, finishing fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix – his best result for the team.
In 2026, his top finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, underscoring the difficulty of matching Bearman’s pace. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked drivers in 2027. Both Bearman and the rumored replacement Rafael Camara are contracted to Ferrari, the supplier of Haas’s power units. Camara, currently 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him an attractive prospect for the American team.
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 follow the action live on Sky Sports F1 or stream via NOW, with flexible subscription options.
Overall, Ocon’s exit marks the end of a short but eventful chapter at Haas. While his future seat remains uncertain, his determination and experience keep him in contention for a return to the grid, whether as a main driver or in a supporting role. The coming months will reveal whether he can secure a new contract, perhaps leveraging his proven ability to develop cars under changing regulations, or if he will need to bide his time in a reserve capacity while awaiting the next opportunity in the sport he remains eager to compete in.