Overview
- Haas confirmed that Esteban Ocon will not drive for the team for the remainder of the season after he was removed from the car during the Mexico City weekend.
- A radio argument over a tyre-change instruction in second practice and a heated Friday debrief are reported as the immediate triggers for Komatsu's decision.
- Ryo Hirakawa deputised in Mexico and scored a point after penalties, while Rafael Camara, already signed for 2027, will make an early debut at São Paulo.
- Ocon has denied reports of any physical altercation and Toto Wolff described the split as a clash between the team principal’s duty to protect the team and the driver’s belief he was right.
- The move accelerates Haas’s planned 2027 lineup and tightens an already crowded driver market, raising immediate questions about Ocon’s F1 prospects and how teams use academy and reserve drivers to fill seats.