Esteban Ocon has been dropped by Haas for the remainder of the 2026 season and will not race for the team again following a falling out with team principal Ayao Komatsu. The team confirmed the decision on Tuesday evening, having already announced that Ocon would not retain a seat for 2027.
Ferrari driver Rafael Camara will partner Ollie Bearman at this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, stepping in for Ocon before taking the seat permanently next year.
Removal before Mexico qualifying
Ocon, 30, was dropped and replaced by Ryo Hirakawa on Saturday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, mere hours before qualifying, despite having taken part in a practice session on Friday. Hirakawa went on to claim a point on his F1 debut in Ocon's position as the team stripped all branding, logos and imagery of the Frenchman from the garage.
Haas stated in an announcement that Ocon would no longer compete for the team across the final four race weekends, declaring: "TGR Haas F1 Team can confirm that Esteban Ocon will no longer compete on its behalf in the 2026 FIA Formula 1 World Championship."
The statement added: "Rafael Camara will now partner Ollie Bearman in the team at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Rafael will make his Formula 1 debut on home-soil this year having last month been announced as one of TGR Haas F1 Team's full-time driver signings for the 2027 FIA Formula 1 World Championship."
Komatsu explains decision
Komatsu said: "Such decisions are never made lightly, as was the case in Mexico City - but then, as now, we feel this is firmly in the best interest of the team moving forward. The conversations that ultimately unfolded between the team and Esteban remain an internal matter. And we will continue to respect the private nature of closed-door situations."
Komatsu declined to discuss Ocon's sudden removal in Mexico, following the Frenchman's disagreement with his race engineer Laura Mueller during the second practice session on Friday over tyre strategy and practice schedules. Mueller informed Ocon that they would alter his current soft-tyre programme to use medium tyres on his race-simulation run because team-mate Bearman's soft-tyre run was "not great". Ocon was told, "We have to do medium", when he asked for clarification, prompting the 30-year-old to respond: "No, no. I wanted the soft. Don't do that to me. Come on."
As Ocon was returned to the garage, he said in frustration: "It is my turn this weekend come on."
Alleged incident and denial
That evening, a team meeting reportedly grew tense. According to BILD, Ocon purportedly wished to apologise and requested a meeting with Komatsu in his office on Saturday. The Japanese team principal reportedly told him he had no desire to talk. Ocon, in response, said he would not leave until he had spoken with Komatsu. When Komatsu tried to exit the office, Ocon reportedly became physical and grasped him by the shoulder.
Ocon strongly refuted that account, declaring in a social media statement that "a difference in viewpoints led to a discussion with the parties involved". He added that he "categorically rejected any reports or allegations suggesting that any form of physical violence was used to resolve any differences of any nature."
Ocon has yet to address Haas' decision to replace him for the remainder of the season. The former Alpine driver currently lacks a seat on the grid for 2027 and could be without a drive for the first time since 2019.
