Esteban Ocon confirms his Haas F1 fate

Esteban Ocon announced on Wednesday that he will not be returning to Haas for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The veteran driver's future with the team has been uncertain as he has struggled to match the pace of teammate Oliver Bearman. At the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ocon ended the race with just three points, while Bearman finished one spot ahead of him, despite Ocon doubling his total.

The driver made the announcement via a social media post, stating that he will leave Haas with pride and perform at his best for the remainder of the season. Reports suggest that Ocon's replacement at Haas is likely to be Ferrari academy prospect Rafael Câmara. As for Bearman's future, he has also performed well enough to secure more time with the team but has not been confirmed for the 2027 season.

Ocon's job hunt for a new F1 team will be challenging, with the majority of teams already confirmed for the following year. Potential options include the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and Mercedes, though Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are expected to stay at VCARB, while George Russell and Kimi Antolin are likely to remain with Mercedes.

In light of these developments, Ocon may have to consider a return to Mercedes as a reserve driver, similar to his situation in 2019.