Recently, the Haas Formula 1 outfit verified rumors that had long circulated in the paddock: Esteban Ocon is set to depart when the 2026 season concludes. Nevertheless, the driver is determined to remain on the F1 grid.
“My main priority is Formula 1,” he stated in Malaysia. “It’s obvious that this is my place and where I desire to compete. Consequently, I am not exploring other categories.
“However, nothing is guaranteed in Formula 1. As everyone realizes, situations change in the blink of an eye. Therefore, I am actively searching for a drive for next season.
“At the moment, our goal is to concentrate on that and deliver strong track performances. I believe we have put together decent showings in recent Grands Prix, which represents the ultimate way to prove that I belong in Formula 1.
“Naturally, having a competitive package is essential, which was lacking for numerous events, including the previous season. If the car performs well, success should follow, just as we demonstrated in Baku and Madrid. We shall see.”
Ocon has endured a turbulent two-year stint at Haas following his exit from Alpine. He spent half a decade with the Enstone-based outfit before falling out of favor under the new leadership led by Flavio Briatore. His peak with Alpine came at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he secured victory from eighth on the grid, fiercely defending the lead he inherited after successfully navigating the opening-lap chaos caused by Valtteri Bottas.
His main challenge reflects the sentiment of Henry Wadsworth’s poetry: when Ocon is on form, he is exceptionally strong, but during off-weekends, the outcomes are highly disappointing. At Haas, he has contended with an unstable car, whereas teammate Oliver Bearman has frequently extracted stronger performances from identical equipment while spending less time voicing frustrations.
Oliver Bearman alongside Esteban Ocon at Haas
Image credit: Joe Portlock / Getty Images
As an independent squad, Haas operates with one of the most modest budgets on the grid, meaning they frequently slide backward in the development race due to limited upgrade capabilities. Their campaign started poorly last season when the VF-25 encountered unforeseen aerodynamic bouncing at high velocity, preventing the team from utilizing the low rear ride heights necessary to optimize ground-effect aerodynamics.
Furthermore, Ocon frequently lamented erratic behavior during braking phases, which appeared and vanished without warning. Following Friday’s practice sessions in Abu Dhabi last season, he remarked to Canal+ that he felt like a complete novice behind the wheel. However, the problems cleared up for the rest of the weekend, allowing him to secure eighth in qualifying and cross the finish line in seventh place.
“We ought to have delivered this level of performance over the previous ten events,” he commented later. “We definitely overlooked something, which leaves a rather bittersweet feeling.”
Unrealized potential has remained a constant storyline during the 2026 campaign, with the VF-26 also suffering from erratic performance. On multiple occasions, Ocon has suggested that the car’s behavior shifted noticeably, showing distinct variations in downforce levels even after the team rebuilt the chassis with identical parts.
During post-qualifying interviews at Monza, he laughed off a lighthearted suggestion from Autosport that he might need to bring in an exorcist.
Nevertheless, reports indicate the team grew frustrated with Ocon’s perceived reluctance to take ownership of sessions where his results fell short of his and the car’s ultimate capability, despite Bearman also experiencing similar vehicle instability. Ocon’s straightforward communication style can sometimes come across as blunt, or even confrontational.
Ironically, this exact candid nature was a key reason Haas recruited him in the first place.
“No, I do not believe that plays any role here,” Ocon replied when questioned if he was being penalized for the team’s ongoing technical struggles.
Esteban Ocon competing for the Haas F1 Team
Image credit: Joe Portlock / LAT Images via Getty Images
“I have simply been focusing on my role, pushing to maximize the car’s potential. Ultimately, this approach has helped the entire crew, as we can see the fruits of our labor alongside my efforts to highlight existing flaws.
“Naturally, I felt these issues first on track. It required several rounds for us to confirm the anomalies, but the team has recognized their existence for some time now. The engineering department is fully aware of this, so that is not the cause of our parting.”
The frontrunner to fill Ocon’s seat at Haas is Rafael Camara, a fellow Ferrari Driver Academy prospect alongside Bearman. While Camara offers financial backing, sources suggest his sponsorship is a welcome bonus rather than the primary motivation behind his potential signing.
Remaining race seat opportunities for Ocon appear limited to Cadillac, where Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas hold unexercised options for the upcoming season. Alternatively, he could secure a reserve driver position at Aston Martin, potentially positioning himself to succeed his ex-Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso once the veteran decides to retire.
“I won’t speculate on specific destinations,” Ocon remarked. “I intend to keep pushing with my current team, delivering strong results, and evaluate my choices as the season progresses.
“However, as I previously mentioned, anything is possible in this sport, and my absolute target is to secure a race seat for next year.”
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– The Autosport.com Editorial Team
