Esteban Ocon to Leave Haas as Frenchman Fights to Continue F1 Career

Posted : 30 September 2026

Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, bringing his two-year spell with the American team to a close. The 30-year-old joined Haas from Alpine in 2025 and is now facing uncertainty over where he will race next year.

Ocon, who has competed in Formula 1 since 2016, has made it clear that he does not intend to walk away from the sport. The Frenchman, who claimed his only Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with Alpine, said he remains determined to secure another opportunity on the grid.

“I am still motivated. I am still hungry. This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career,” Ocon said after the Haas announcement. He added that his immediate priority is to finish the 2026 campaign strongly and maximize every opportunity available to him.

Ocon has spent the 2026 season alongside Oliver Bearman, with the younger driver currently ahead in the championship. Ocon sits 16th in the standings, while Bearman has 13 more points, and Bearman has also held the advantage in qualifying, winning 13 of their 19 qualifying battles so far this season.

The Frenchman nevertheless said he was proud of his contribution to Haas and pointed to circumstances that had not always been within his control. He plans to remain fully committed to the team through the remaining races before their partnership ends.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu thanked Ocon for his work since joining the team. He highlighted the driver's experience and technical feedback during a season in which Formula 1 introduced major regulation changes, saying those contributions helped the team develop its VF-26.

Haas has yet to officially announce Ocon's replacement. Ferrari-backed Formula 2 driver Rafael Camara is among the candidates being considered, alongside other options including Leonardo Fornaroli, Ryo Hirakawa and Jack Doohan.

With several 2027 seats already settled, Ocon's next move remains unclear. Reuters reports that Racing Bulls and Cadillac are among the teams yet to finalize their line-ups, while a test or reserve role could also become an option if he does not secure a race seat.

For now, Ocon remains focused on completing his Haas campaign. After nearly a decade in Formula 1 and almost 200 Grand Prix starts, he is determined to keep pursuing another opportunity at the top level.

Esteban Ocon to Leave Haas as Frenchman Fights to Continue F1 Career

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