Haas sack French driver Ocon

American Formula One team Haas announced on Tuesday that they had sacked French driver Esteban Ocon. Ocon, a seasoned driver with a decade-long career spanning six teams and 198 Grands Prix, had been replaced by Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa for the Mexico Grand Prix. The decision to part ways with Ocon was not taken lightly, according to team chief Ayo Komatsu, who stated that this was in the best interest of the team moving forward.

Haas declined to disclose details of the internal conversations that led to Ocon's dismissal. Earlier reports suggested that a physical altercation between Komatsu and Ocon occurred in Mexico due to a disagreement over tire selection, a claim Ocon denied. Haas had previously announced in a separate announcement that Ocon would be replaced by Brazilian driver Rafael Camara in the upcoming season.

Komatsu confirmed that Camara will join forces with Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. The team expressed enthusiasm for welcoming Camara into the team and supporting him during his Formula 1 debut, driving the VF-26 in Brazil. Following Sao Paulo, Haas has scheduled races in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.