Team boss Ayao Komatsu says Haas will decide its 2027 driver line‑up around May‑July, as the American outfit joins a market where more than half the grid faces contract expiry after 2026. The timing follows a rare year‑on‑year stability pattern that left the 2024 grid unchanged, then sparked massive reshuffles for 2025 and 2026, and the looming 2026 rule changes that will shape team strategies.

Esteban Ocon entered 2026 as a signing, yet he has amassed only one point from the opening five races, sitting 17 behind rookie Oliver Bearman, who already sits Haas seventh in the championship. Ocon’s brake‑locking woes and inconsistent pace have drawn criticism, while Bearman’s points haul and finishes have made him the team’s frontrunner and his 2025 season was marred by reliability issues.

Komatsu refused to confirm whether Ocon will retain his seat, warning that premature speculation could create “st”. With Bearman delivering points and Ocon languishing in 14th at Montreal, the team may look to a Ferrari academy graduate such as Rafael Camara or reserve driver Jack Doohan, who brings sponsorship. Haas**, despite a modest budget, now seeks two equally competitive drivers to sustain its climb.