Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, both driver and team have confirmed. The 30-year-old Frenchman joined the American-owned squad from Alpine for the 2025 campaign, and now he is heading out after two years that saw him consistently outshined by his younger teammate, Oliver Bearman.
The confirmation came on Wednesday morning, ending months of speculation about Ocon’s future. There is no immediate news on who will replace him, though reports suggest Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara has been lined up to partner Bearman next season. The timing of the announcement, with just eight rounds of the 2026 season remaining, means Ocon is highly likely to be without a drive for 2027.
Ocon’s Own Words
Ocon posted on social media about his departure. “My time with Haas F1 Team will come to an end at the end of the 2026 season,” he wrote. “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.”
He made the announcement at a moment when his own performance had slipped further behind Bearman’s. The gap between the two drivers widened in 2026, with Bearman finishing 13th in the Drivers’ Championship on 20 points and Ocon settling for 16th on seven points. Bearman also holds a 10-4 head-to-head advantage in qualifying.
Bearman’s Rise Over Ocon
Bearman, 21, has been the standout performer throughout their time together. He joined Haas and has steadily outpaced Ocon across both seasons. The young driver’s pace has grown particularly sharp this year, and he leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds remaining.
The contrast in results is stark. Ocon’s best finish for Haas came early in his first season, when he took fifth at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix in just his second race with the team. His best result of 2026 came on Sunday, when he claimed eighth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Bearman’s 13th in the Drivers’ Championship is a stronger position than Ocon’s 16th, and his 20 points to Ocon’s seven tells the full story of a season where the younger driver clearly had the edge.
The Numbers Behind the Decision
| Driver | Points | Position | Head-to-head record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver Bearman | 20 | 13th | 10-4 (qualifying) |
| Esteban Ocon | 7 | 16th | 4-10 (qualifying) |
The table shows the scale of the gap between the two drivers. Bearman nearly tripled Ocon’s points tally and sits three places higher in the standings. The head-to-head record shows Bearman winning 10 times while Ocon won four, and the source specifies the record applies to qualifying.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu thanked Ocon for his contribution. “I’d like to thank Esteban for everything he’s contributed to the team since joining us in 2025,” Komatsu said. “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.”
Komatsu also kept the door open for the remainder of the campaign. “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.”
Ocon’s Career Before Haas
Ocon’s path to Haas was not straightforward. He served as Mercedes reserve driver in 2019 after being let go by Force India, which would become Racing Point and then Aston Martin. That stint kept him in the sport but did not put him back on the grid until 2020.
Then came Renault, which later rebranded as Alpine. Ocon spent five seasons with the team and claimed his only grand prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. His time there established him as a regular contender before he moved to Haas.
The move to Haas was supposed to be a fresh start. Instead, it became a period defined by a growing performance gap with Bearman.
The Road Ahead for Ocon
Ocon’s immediate focus remains 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,” he said. “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.”
He remains convinced he will return to the grid soon. “I am still motivated. I am still hungry. This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career,” he added.
That determination is notable given the situation. With few clear openings elsewhere, Ocon may have to settle for a reserve driver role in 2027.
What Happens Next for Haas
Haas appear likely to line up with two Ferrari juniors in 2027. Both Bearman and Ocon’s expected replacement Camara are contracted to the Italian team, which supplies Haas with its power units. The pairing would give the team a consistent Ferrari presence for the foreseeable future.
The team has not announced a replacement yet, despite reports suggesting Camara is the frontrunner. For now, the focus stays on the current season, with plenty of racing still to come.
The Weekend Ahead
Formula 1 heads to Malaysia for the first time since 2017 as it hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit. The race is live on Sky Sports F1, with coverage starting from Friday morning.
The timing of the announcement means Ocon’s absence from 2027 is highly likely. The question now is whether he can find a seat somewhere else, or whether he will have to wait for the next opportunity to return.
For now, the Frenchman is focused on finishing strong. He has eight races left to prove himself again, and he knows the clock is running.
Source material: “Ocon to leave Haas at end of 2026 season,” Sky Sports.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.