Haas drops Esteban Ocon for Rafael Camara following tyre dispute

Esteban Ocon Permanently Dropped by Haas F1 Team

Esteban Ocon will not race for Haas again this season, with Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara stepping into the VF-26 at this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Formula 1 reported. The team released a statement confirming that Ocon would no longer compete on its behalf in the 2026 FIA Formula 1 world championship. The decision follows Ocon’s sudden benching midway through the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend after a dispute over tyre choice with race engineer Laura Mueller during second practice.

Rafael Camara Advances to Formula 1 Debut Early

Ferrari Academy driver Rafael Camara was already announced to take Ocon’s seat from the start of 2027, but the Brazilian rookie will now make his Formula 1 debut months ahead of schedule at Interlagos. motorsport.com reported that Camara’s final green light came on Tuesday afternoon, though he had already been placed on standby during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend. Camara completed five Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) outings during the season, including a run in the Haas VF-25 in August at Portimao that convinced the team of his natural ability. He will partner British driver Ollie Bearman at his home race.

The Mexico City Grand Prix Fallout and Team Friction

Ocon’s removal followed an escalation in tensions that began with radio frustration during Friday practice in Mexico over a high-fuel run plan on mediums rather than softs. The disagreement led to a closed-door meeting between Ocon and team principal Ayao Komatsu on Friday evening. France’s L’Equipe reported that the meeting ended abruptly and potentially physically, though Ocon subsequently released a statement categorically rejecting any allegations of physical violence. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu refused to answer questions regarding the specifics on Sky Sports, stating that the conversations remained an internal matter.

Ryo Hirakawa’s Temporary Stand-In Appearance

Toyota protege and Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa stepped in for Ocon from Saturday onwards in Mexico City. Hirakawa received the call at 6:30am on Saturday morning, according to The Race, and went on to finish 10th after post-race penalties to score a point on his F1 debut. However, pre-existing commitments in the World Endurance Championship in Italy prevented Hirakawa from racing in Brazil this weekend, opening the door for Camara’s early arrival.

Haas Remains Silent on Drivers for Remaining Rounds

Who will drive for Haas after the Sao Paulo Grand Prix?

Haas has not confirmed who will drive in the remaining rounds at Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi following this weekend’s race in Brazil, according to Sky Sports.

What led to the immediate split between Haas and Esteban Ocon?

Haas has given no details as to what specifically led them to drop Ocon in Mexico, citing only that the decision was made in the best interest of the team moving forward.

Where does Esteban Ocon stand for the 2027 Formula 1 grid?

Ocon looks set to be out of a race seat for 2027, as potential vacancies at Racing Bulls and Cadillac reportedly hold no interest in him, leaving him to look for a reserve driver role to stay in paddock conversations.

More on this story: Nikola Tsolov to replace Liam Lawson in Mexico FP1 session