Esteban Ocon Eyes Cadillac Seat Following Haas Exit

Esteban Ocon is fighting for his F1 survival. After being axed by Haas at the end of the 2026 season, the French driver and his management are targeting a seat at Cadillac for 2027, one of the few remaining vacancies on a nearly full grid.

Why it matters:

Ocon is a proven race winner, but the 2027 driver market is incredibly tight. With most teams having finalized their lineups, a move to Cadillac represents his best shot at avoiding a hiatus. Securing this seat would allow Ocon to leverage his experience to help stabilize the American project, while the team gains a driver capable of delivering immediate results.

The details:

• The Cadillac Connection: Ocon maintains a strong relationship with Team Principal Marcin Budkowski from their joint tenure at Alpine between 2021 and 2022.
• The Bottas Vulnerability: While Sergio Perez remains a core pillar of the project due to his strong comeback form, Valtteri Bottas' position is under threat. The presence of Bottas' manager, Didier Coton, in Austin suggests urgent contract discussions are underway.
• The Competition: Ocon isn't the only candidate; Cadillac is also weighing options including American talent Colton Herta, Yuki Tsunoda, and Liam Lawson.
• Alternative Paths: Should a race seat fail to materialize, Ocon is exploring a reserve driver role at Aston Martin to maintain his presence in the paddock and bridge the gap to 2028.

The big picture:

The 2027 grid is characterized by a critical scarcity of seats. With Mercedes and Racing Bulls the only other teams with unconfirmed slots—and the latter facing a youth promotion dilemma with Lawson and Lindblad—established veterans are forced to gamble on emerging projects to stay relevant.

What's next:

All eyes turn to the Mexican Grand Prix. As Sergio Perez celebrates his 300th start at his home race, it provides the ideal stage for Cadillac to solidify its 2027 vision and decide whether Ocon's experience outweighs the appeal of a domestic American driver.