Esteban Ocon has been permanently dropped by the Haas F1 team following a dispute with team principal Ayao Komatsu. The French driver was replaced at the Mexico City Grand Prix by reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa after a disagreement over tyre choice with race engineer Laura Mueller. Haas has now confirmed Ocon will not return for the remainder of the 2026 season, with Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara set to debut at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and sign for 2027.
Ocon, who has raced in 198 grands prix since 2016 and holds one victory, is now seeking a reserve role as he faces an uncertain future in Formula 1. The team described the decision as being in the best interest of Haas moving forward, while refusing to disclose details of the internal conflict.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing