Esteban Ocon has confirmed that he will part ways with the Haas Formula 1 outfit at the conclusion of the 2026 season, a fact that both the driver and the team have publicly acknowledged. The announcement arrived on Wednesday morning, putting an end to months of speculation surrounding the future of the 30‑year‑old Frenchman within the organization. In the same statement, Haas clarified that there is no immediate information regarding Ocon's successor, despite circulating rumors that Brazilian Ferrari academy driver Rafael Camara could be earmarked to join British youngster Oliver Bearman for the 2027 lineup.
The team chose to keep any potential recruitment details under wraps for the time being. Ocon took to his social‑media channels to share his thoughts on the departure: "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 originally moved to Haas from Alpine for the 2025 season. Throughout his two‑year stint, he has been consistently out‑paced by the 21‑year‑old Bearman, who has emerged as the team's leading performer.
The performance gap widened further in 2026, with Bearman finishing 13th in the Drivers' Championship with 20 points, while Ocon ended up 16th with just seven points. In head‑to‑head qualifying battles this year, Bearman enjoyed a 10‑4 advantage over Ocon. 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 when the news broke, Ocon's prospects for securing a race seat for 2027 appear slim. The F1 grid currently has limited vacancies, and many teams have already locked in their driver line‑ups.
Consequently, the Frenchman may need to consider a reserve‑driver role next year, although he remains resolute that his Formula 1 career is far from over. "My immediate focus is the next race weekend," Ocon 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 full‑time seat. In 2019 he served as a reserve driver for Mercedes after his contract with Force India (later Racing Point and now Aston Martin) was terminated. He made a comeback to the grid in 2020 with Renault, staying through the team's rebranding to Alpine and achieving his sole Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
His tenure at Haas produced a handful of respectable results. The highlight came early, when he secured a fifth‑place finish at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, his second race for the American team. In 2026 his best finish was eighth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, demonstrating that he could still extract points when the car's performance allowed.
Looking ahead, Haas appears poised to field two Ferrari‑linked junior drivers for the 2027 season. Oliver Bearman is expected to remain, while Rafael Camara – currently leading the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds to go – is anticipated to step up as Ocon's replacement.
Camara's affiliation with Ferrari, which supplies Haas power units, makes the move a logical extension of the existing partnership. Beyond the driver market, the broader Formula 1 calendar is set to feature a 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, with streaming options available through NOW, offering a flexible, contract‑free viewing experience. 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 suggest he will continue to pursue opportunities, whether as a reserve driver, a test driver, or potentially a full‑time seat should a vacancy arise. The upcoming season will be crucial for both Ocon and Haas as they navigate driver line‑up decisions, technical development, and the ever‑evolving competitive landscape of Formula 1.