Ocon set for Haas exit as Camara leads replacement race

Esteban Ocon is expected to leave Haas at the end of the season, with Ferrari protege and Formula 2 title contender Rafael Camara the leading candidate to replace him. Ocon's exit isn't official, but he admitted ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that he's a 'free agent for next year' and is talking to other teams.

Why it matters:

Haas is prioritizing its Ferrari-backed lineup, keeping highly rated Ollie Bearman and looking to upgrade the second seat. After a difficult 2025 and an even tougher 2026, Ocon hasn't made a compelling case on performance alone. The team has a commercial element to consider, but performance remains the first priority.

The details:

• Ocon joined Haas in 2025 after five seasons with Alpine. He was narrowly outscored by rookie Bearman last year and trails 18-3 this season, though that gap is inflated by Bearman's early points, including a fifth in China.
• Haas began evaluating alternatives earlier this year through its private testing program with technical partner Toyota. Camara, McLaren junior Leonardo Fornaroli, Toyota-backed Ryo Hirakawa, and reserve Jack Doohan all tested.
• Of that group, Camara is considered the frontrunner. The Brazilian is currently fighting for the F2 title.
• Ocon told media: 'At the moment I'm definitely a free agent for next year.' When asked if staying with Haas was still an option, he replied: 'Let's see.'
• Team principal Ayao Komatsu has acknowledged a wider commercial element in the driver decision but stressed performance would be first. Haas is understood to have an option to extend Ocon into 2027, but wants to continue with Bearman.

What's next:

Ocon, a one-time grand prix winner, wants to stay in F1 and feels he has more to prove. But with the 2027 grid mostly set, a race seat is hard to find. A reserve role could be a path back.

This marks the second time Ocon has been forced out of a seat, after losing his spot for 2019 when Force India collapsed.