Esteban Ocon has confirmed that his tenure with the Haas Formula 1 team will conclude at the close of the 2026 season, a fact that has been officially acknowledged by both the driver and the outfit. The announcement arrived on Wednesday morning, putting an end to months of speculation surrounding the 30‑year‑old Frenchman’s future within the organization. In the same statement, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information to share regarding Ocon’s successor, despite circulating rumors that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara could be earmarked 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 express his thoughts: “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 to Haas from Alpine ahead of the 2025 season, but his stint has been consistently outshone by the 21‑year‑old Bearman, who has posted stronger results across both years they have shared a car. The performance gap widened further in 2026: Bearman finished 13th in the Drivers’ Championship with 20 points, while Ocon ended up 16th with just seven points.
In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this season, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑to‑4 advantage over his teammate. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu offered 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 news strongly suggests that Ocon will be without a race seat for the 2027 season. The Formula 1 market does not currently present many clear openings, meaning the Frenchman may need to accept a reserve‑driver role next year.
Nevertheless, Ocon has been vocal about his determination to return to the grid, insisting that his career 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 journey in Formula 1 has already seen him face periods without a seat. 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 eventually Aston Martin. He made a comeback to the grid with Renault in 2020, remaining with the outfit for five seasons as it 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 stint, when he finished fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix. In 2026 his best finish was an eighth place at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, a respectable showing given the car’s limitations and the competitive midfield. Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked junior drivers in 2027. Both Oliver Bearman and the anticipated replacement for Ocon, Rafael Camara, are currently contracted to Ferrari, the power‑unit supplier for Haas.
Camara, who is 21, leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining, making him a highly attractive prospect for the team. The broader Formula 1 calendar will see the sport 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 follow the action live on Sky Sports F1, with streaming options available through NOW for those who prefer an on‑demand subscription.
In summary, Esteban Ocon’s departure marks the end of a brief but eventful chapter at Haas. While the immediate future may involve a temporary step back from a full‑time race seat, his statements and past resilience suggest he will continue to pursue opportunities within the sport, whether as a reserve driver, a test role, or a potential return to a main lineup once the right opening materialises.