{
  "id": 18033209,
  "title": "Haas sack French driver Ocon after Mexico GP fallout",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/haas-sack-french-driver-ocon-after-mexico-gp-fallout-18033209",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T21:55:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/11/04/haas-sack-french-driver-ocon-after-mexico-gp-fallout"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Haas has dismissed French driver Esteban Ocon following the Mexico Grand Prix, team chief Ayao Komatsu announced on Tuesday. Ocon, with a decade-long career spanning six teams and 198 Grands Prix, was replaced by Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa for the upcoming Mexico GP after participating in both practice sessions on Friday. Komatsu revealed that such decisions are rarely made, and the parting of ways with Ocon is in the best interest of the team going forward. The discussions between the team and Ocon, however, remain confidential. Reports suggest a physical altercation occurred between Komatsu and Ocon in Mexico over tyre selection, a claim dismissed by the Frenchman. Haas had previously informed the public that Ocon would be replaced next year by Brazilian Rafael Camara, a Ferrari driver academy member. Komatsu confirmed that the team has chosen Camara to drive alongside Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo GP, with the Brazilian set to debut in the VF-26 for Haas in Brazil. Following Sao Paulo, the team will compete in races at Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.",
  "summary": "There were reports of a physical altercation between team chief Ayao Komatsu and Esteban Ocon at the Mexico GP over a disagreement on choice of tyres.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "Camara to make home F1 debut in Brazil as Haas rule out Ocon's return",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/camara-to-make-home-f1-debut-in-brazil-as-haas-rule-out-ocons-return",
        "published": "2026-11-03T21:11:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Folha de S.Paulo (English)",
        "title": "Janu�ria, in Brazil's Interior, Is Home to Monumental Caves in the Heart of Minas Gerais' Backlands",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/janu-ria-in-brazils-interior-is-home-to-monumental-caves-in-the-heart",
        "published": "2026-11-03T21:58:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}