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 speculation surrounding the 30‑year‑old Frenchman's future, and it also clarified that Haas does not have any immediate information to share regarding his successor, despite circulating rumours that Ferrari’s junior talent Rafael Camara could be paired with British youngster Oliver Bearman for the following year. Ocon took to his social‑media platforms 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 for the 2025 season, but throughout their two‑year partnership he has consistently been out‑paced by the 21‑year‑old Bearman. The performance gap widened further in 2026, with Bearman finishing 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points, while Ocon ended the year 16th with just seven points.
In qualifying, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over Ocon over the course of the season. 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, the timing of the announcement strongly suggests that Ocon will be without a race‑seat for the 2027 season. The F1 market offers few clear openings, so the Frenchman may have to accept a reserve‑driver role while he seeks a full‑time drive.
Nevertheless, 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.” Ocon’s career has already seen him navigate periods without a seat. In 2019 he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after being released by Force India—a team that later became Racing Point and subsequently Aston Martin. He returned to the grid in 2020 with Renault, staying for five seasons as the team rebranded to Alpine, and secured his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
During his brief stint with Haas, Ocon’s best result came early, finishing fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, his second race for the American outfit. In 2026 his top finish was eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. These points‑scoring finishes, while respectable, were insufficient to close the gap to Bearman, who has consistently delivered stronger qualifying performances and race results. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked drivers in 2027.
Both Bearman and the prospective replacement, Rafael Camara, are currently under contract with Ferrari, which supplies power units to Haas. Camara, 21, is leading the Formula 2 championship by seven points with only two rounds remaining, making him an attractive prospect for the team. The broader Formula 1 calendar is also evolving. The sport will return to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with the Bahrain Grand Prix scheduled to take place at the Sepang International Circuit.
Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW without a long‑term contract. In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter at Haas. While his future in the sport remains uncertain, his determination and professionalism have earned him respect within the paddock.
Whether he returns as a reserve driver, secures a seat with another team, or explores opportunities outside of Formula 1, Ocon’s ambition to compete at the highest level remains unmistakable.