Toyota denies 2027 WEC deal with Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon has officially confirmed his departure from Haas F1 Team at the conclusion of the 2026 season. The veteran driver's tenure at the team has been questioned due to his struggles to keep pace with teammate Oliver Bearman throughout the past few months. Ocon entered the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with a lowly three points for the season, but he managed to more than double that total with an eighth-place finish, just one spot ahead of Bearman.

Despite his improved performance, it was not sufficient to secure his place at Haas for the 2027 F1 season. Ocon shared his decision on social media, expressing pride in his performances despite the challenging circumstances. He stated that his immediate focus is the upcoming race weekend and that he will continue to work hard with the team.

Reports suggest that Ferrari academy prospect Rafael Câmara is the team's preferred choice for the seat next to Bearman. Bearman's status remains unofficially confirmed, but he has performed well enough to earn more time with the team. Finding a new F1 seat for Ocon will be challenging, as most teams have already confirmed their lineups for 2027.

The only spots yet to be confirmed are at Visa Cash App Racing Bulls and Mercedes. It is believed that Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will return to VCARB, while Mercedes is likely to keep George Russell and Kimi Antonelli due to the options in their respective contracts.