Esteban Ocon Is Out At Haas With Eight Races To Go — And His "I Am Still Hungry" Statement Says A LOT

Well, that escalated on a Wednesday morning. Esteban Ocon is leaving Haas at the end of 2026, and with just eight races left, his F1 future is suddenly a giant question mark.

Both driver and team confirmed the split, according to Sky Sports, after months of speculation. Ocon had all but hinted at it at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, so this wasn't a total shock, but it's still a BIG moment.

The Tea ☕

• Haas and Ocon have confirmed he's leaving at the end of the 2026 season
• BBC Sport says there are no obvious seats for him on the 2027 grid
• Ocon insists: "This is absolutely not the end of my Formula 1 career"

The Statement

Ocon wasn't going quietly. In a social media post, he said he leaves "with my head held high" and proud of his performances in circumstances that were "not always the easiest... for various reasons and factors outside of my control." Ooh, the vagueness, we see you.

He also added: "I am still motivated. I am still hungry." That's a man who has NOT finished with F1, and wants everyone to know it.

Why Is This Happening?

The numbers aren't on his side. Per BBC Sport, he's been outperformed by team-mate Oliver Bearman since joining Haas in 2025. Bearman has out-qualified him 13-6 this year.

Fun detail: the sources don't quite agree on the exact championship standings. BBC has Bearman three places and 13 points clear of Ocon, while Sky has Bearman 13th on 20 points and Ocon 16th on seven. Either way, the direction of travel is the same.

Ocon did bag an eighth-place finish at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last weekend, his best result of 2026. Talk about a timing twist.

Who's Taking His Seat?

Haas say there's no imminent news on a replacement. But Sky notes reports that Brazilian Ferrari junior Rafael Camara has been lined up to partner Bearman next year. Camara, 21, currently leads the Formula 2 championship by seven points with two rounds to go.

That's speculation for now, but a full Ferrari-junior lineup at Haas would make a lot of sense, since both Bearman and Camara are contracted to the Italian team that supplies Haas's power units.

Been Here Before

Plot twist: this isn't Ocon's first comeback rodeo. He lost his seat after Force India in 2019, spent a year as a Mercedes reserve, then returned with Renault in 2020. He went on to win the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, his only win to date.

Sky suggests a reserve role in 2027 might be the realistic fallback, but Ocon clearly has other plans.

What's Next?

Formula 1 heads to Malaysia for the first time since 2017, with Sepang hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix. Ocon says his immediate focus is the next race weekend, and honestly? A driver with nothing to lose on a fresh circuit is must-watch TV.

So, do you think Ocon pulls off another comeback, or is this the end of the road in F1? Sound off below. 👇

Sources: BBC Sport | Sky Sports