Don't write him off just yet. Esteban Ocon has made it crystal clear that his time in Formula 1 is far from finished, even as he prepares to walk away from Haas at the end of the 2026 season.
With nearly every seat on the 2027 grid already locked down outside of Haas and Racing Bulls, the Frenchman finds himself facing a tight squeeze. Speaking ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, Ocon insisted that his sole focus remains the top flight. Over a 10-year career that boasts one victory and three podiums, he believes he still belongs right where he is.
Esteban has been a great team mate and it’s a shame to see him going, but I think I’ve learned a lot from him over the year and a half we’ve been together,
“You never know what can happen in F1,” he told the media. “We are of course aware that things can change very quickly, the opportunities can always be there so there is still hope and I'm not looking at anything else other than F1.” He added that if worst comes to worst, a reserve driver position is not entirely off the table, though his clear preference remains a full-time racing seat. It is a familiar sort of crossroads for a driver who previously spent 2019 on the sidelines as a reserve for Mercedes following earlier stints with Manor and Force India.
For now, Ocon is leaving the American outfit with his head held high, pointing to the heavy lifting he did behind the scenes to help sort out their persistent car inconsistencies. Finding critical issues early last year has finally started paying off with healthier machinery, leading to a double top-10 finish in Baku and strong runs in Madrid. Team mate Ollie Bearman—who scored Haas' first points of the season and looks set to stay for a third year as the squad's potentially most experienced driver—was quick to praise the outgoing Frenchman.
“Esteban has been a great team mate and it’s a shame to see him going, but I think I’ve learned a lot from him over the year and a half we’ve been together,” Bearman explained. For Ocon, the mission is simple: keep delivering on track and let the unpredictable nature of the paddock do the rest.
