Esteban Ocon to Leave Haas at the End of 2026 Season
Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, ending his spell with the team after two campaigns. His announcement follows weeks of speculation over his future, including earlier reports that he had dismissed rumours about his Haas seat.
Ocon joined Haas from Alpine for 2025, partnering Ferrari-backed rookie Ollie Bearman. Across 39 Grands Prix with the team, he has recorded 12 points finishes. His best result came in China last year, where he finished fifth in only his second event for Haas.
Ocon: ‘This is absolutely not the end’
In a statement posted on social media on Wednesday, ahead of the Grand Prix weekend, Ocon confirmed his departure but did not reveal what he plans to do next.
“My time with Haas F1 Team will come to an end at the end of the 2026 season,” he wrote. Ocon said he was leaving the project “with my head held high” and proud of his performances, despite circumstances he described as difficult and beyond his control.
His immediate priority, he said, is the next race weekend. He pledged to keep working with the team, make the most of every opportunity and continue extracting performance from the car through the remaining races.
Ocon closed his message with a clear indication that he intends to continue in the sport: “I am still motivated. I am still hungry. This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career.”
Haas keeps focus on the season
Haas responded with a statement from team principal Ayao Komatsu, thanking Ocon for his contribution since joining in 2025. Komatsu highlighted the driver’s professionalism, commitment and experience, as well as his input during the team’s work to develop the VF-26 amid a major regulation change.
“There’s still plenty of racing ahead,” Komatsu said, adding that Haas’s focus is on working together to maximise opportunities through the final race. The team also said it would not share further driver-related news “at this time.”
Attention will now turn to who could take Ocon’s seat. Ferrari junior and FIA Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara is described as the favourite, with McLaren reserve Leo Fornaroli and Haas reserves Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa also named as potential contenders. Haas has not confirmed its plans, leaving Ocon’s next move—and the team’s 2027 line-up—unresolved.
Simone Scanu
Es ingeniero de software y un gran apasionado de la Fórmula 1 y los deportes de motor. Es cofundador de Formula Live Pulse, una empresa dedicada a hacer que la telemetría en directo y la información sobre las carreras sean accesibles, visuales y fáciles de seguir.