Overview
- Haas confirmed at the end of September that Esteban Ocon will leave the team after the 2026 season.
- Ocon has said he will stay focused on Formula 1 for 2027, has ruled out racing in another category, and would accept a reserve or third‑driver role if no race seat materialises.
- Haas says it changed course because it wants a driver who delivers speed plus steadier performance with the VF‑26, and team principal Ayao Komatsu emphasised there are no ill feelings.
- Private tests and junior links have shaped Haas’s shortlist, with Ferrari‑backed Formula 2 leader Rafael Camara reported as the leading candidate to replace Ocon.
- With most 2027 seats already taken, Ocon faces limited full‑time options and could follow the 2019 pattern of spending a year off the grid or as a manufacturer reserve while waiting for a race opportunity.