ANALYSIS: Why Haas have decided to move on from Ocon – and where he goes from here

It's official. Esteban Ocon will not drive for Haas beyond the end of the season, which means that, unless something dramatic happens, he won't be on the Formula 1 grid in 2027.

Why has this happened?

When Haas Team Principal Ayao Komatsu signed Esteban Ocon for 2025, it was a milestone for the American team – the first time they had run a Grand Prix winner in one of their cars.

Komatsu rated Ocon, having engineered the Frenchman in his first F1 test with Lotus in 2012, and felt he would help Haas' bid to become an established midfield team and regular points scorer.

While Ocon scored points across the season, he finished the year behind highly rated rookie team mate Ollie Bearman, with Komatsu admitting the team "expected more" from him in 2025.

Bearman then started this season strongly, with P7 in Australia and P5 in China, while Ocon struggled to find a rhythm. By the time he got in the groove, Haas had dropped down the pecking order and were no longer in contention for points.

With Ocon falling short of expectations, Haas began to consider life without him.

The team ran several TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) sessions – with plenty of young talent available – to evaluate FIA Formula 2 Championship winner Leo Fornaroli, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara and reserves Ryo Hirakawa and Jack Doohan.

Though Komatsu had not decided who he wanted, he knew he had options – and he wanted a change.

So, ahead of the weekend in Baku, Komatsu sat down with Ocon and explained his decision not to continue with the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner.

What are Ocon's options?

I understand that Ocon has unfinished business in Formula 1 and has no interest in exploring opportunities outside the sport – something he's also made clear with his own statement on social media.

He accepts that securing a race seat for 2027 looks difficult, because most teams have already finalised their line-ups.

Aston Martin were a possible destination had Fernando Alonso not stayed on, but that avenue was slammed shut on Tuesday.

A reserve role looks the most likely outcome. The 30-year-old is part of the Mercedes driver programme, so a return to the Silver Arrows in that capacity would make sense.

Equally, his experience in the sport – he has been around for more than a decade and driven for the likes of Manor, Force India/Racing Point, Renault/Alpine and Haas – will make him an attractive prospect in a supporting role for other teams.

This is familiar territory for Ocon. He spent 2019 on the sidelines with Mercedes after missing out on a Renault drive for that season. He got his head down, focused on the role and battled back onto the grid for 2020.

Of course, it's not ideal – but he has little choice. When I asked him about the future after he finished eighth in Baku, his first points since Monaco in June, his punchy response confirmed how keen he is to fight for his place in the sport.

"I will keep pushing as much as I can," he said. "I’ve won in every category I’ve driven, I won in go karts, I won in Formula Renault, I won in GP3, I won in Formula 3, I won in Formula 1.

"I can fight out there, I got what it takes and the hard work that I put in is... You know, you came to many places to see me work and I put the work out there, I just don’t sit around and think I have done enough, I want to do more."

It's clear Ocon still firmly believes he is good enough to compete in F1 and is up for a fight. But so competitive is the sport that being good enough isn't always enough to secure a drive.

If he can deliver more all-round performances like the one he produced in Baku, and Mercedes continue to back him, it's certainly not over yet. Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez have both proved you can spend a year on the sidelines and come back, even late in your career.

For now, though, it looks like Ocon will have to play a waiting game.

What will Haas do next?

Haas haven't announced their plans for 2027, but sources say Bearman will stay on for a third season.

The Briton has impressed Komatsu and Haas with the progress he has made since joining the team full-time ahead of the 2025 season – and it is that performance curve which has helped convince Komatsu they can take on another young driver.

F2 champion and McLaren reserve driver Fornaroli was an early contender, with the Woking-based team open to loaning the Italian to Haas, but following conversations with Ferrari, their junior Camara became the favourite.

The Brazilian has impressed in F2 this year and snatched the championship lead in Baku from Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov.

Ferrari, with whom Haas have partnered since entering the sport in 2016, are keen to get him in the car – and that will bring financial benefits for the American team. Camara also has partners who will bring funding.

That kind of resource would be valuable to Haas, who have the smallest budget on the grid and do not currently spend up to the cost cap.

Talent and financial support make Camara an attractive proposition – and that is why he is expected to get the nod for 2027.