Esteban Ocon denies Haas exit rumors as 'complete bullshit'

Esteban Ocon has angrily dismissed speculation about a mid-season split with Haas as "complete bullshit", calling the rumors "almost like bullying" for the damage they cause. In his pre-Canadian Grand Prix media session, Ocon laughed off claims of a dispute with team principal Ayao Komatsu, emphasizing that their relationship remains strong and that the stories are entirely fabricated.

Why it matters:

Rumors of driver-team discord can quickly spiral, affecting morale and sponsor confidence. Ocon's forceful denial highlights the real-world impact of unchecked speculation in the paddock, especially for a driver already under scrutiny after a tough start to 2025.

The details:

• Ocon described the rumors as "complete nonsense" and pointed out that the article in question even misnamed Komatsu as "Ryo Komatsu".
• He stressed that he and Komatsu have a great relationship built over years, and the supposed Miami "dispute" was just a normal post-race debrief.
• Performance gap: Ocon has scored only 1 point to Bearman's 16, with a 1-5 qualifying head-to-head. But Ocon argues this is misleading, citing bad luck with safety cars that cost him over 10 points in China and Australia.
• He admitted the speculation does affect him: "It does affect my family, it does affect the sponsors... it's disappointing to see you can make such damage to a reputation in two or three days while there's nothing founded."
• Ocon confirmed that contract talks are not happening now but typically occur in the summer, implying he remains open to a future with Haas.

What's next:

Ocon is focused on turning his season around and believes the pace is there. If the results come, the rumor mill should quiet down. The immediate test is the Canadian Grand Prix, where he will aim to back up his words with a strong performance.