Esteban Ocon insists his departure from Haas is not the result of a performance problem and says he still deserves a place in Formula 1, but team principal Ayao Komatsu has offered a broader explanation for why the team decided it was time to move on. Komatsu continues to rate the Frenchman’s outright speed and talent highly, yet believes Haas has not seen that level consistently enough over the past year and a half.
Ocon’s exit had been expected for some time, but confirmation finally arrived at the beginning of this week: he will not remain with Haas next season. The decision is not simply a reaction to the most recent races, but the result of a wider assessment that also includes his contribution during 2025, particularly the second half of that campaign when the team had expected more.
Oliver Bearman increasingly became Haas reference
Ocon began his Haas spell well. His experience allowed him to take on the role of a guiding figure during a difficult period for the team, particularly after the abrupt and unexpected reality check Haas suffered in 2025 when aerodynamic problems emerged in Australia.
As the races passed, however, Oliver Bearman increasingly came to the fore. Despite being a rookie, the British driver’s performances became progressively more convincing and impressive, particularly from the middle of 2025 onwards.
It was no coincidence that, even at the end of last season, Ayao Komatsu had not hidden the fact that he expected more from Ocon. Haas had recruited the Frenchman not only for his experience, but also for his speed and his ability to make a difference within a growing team.
The situation did not improve significantly in 2026. During the opening races, when Haas was fighting to establish itself as the benchmark of the midfield, Ocon struggled to convert the car’s potential into points, while Oliver Bearman made better use of the machinery available to him.
Only in the most recent Grands Prix has Esteban Ocon rediscovered stronger pace. But when his entire year and a half with Haas is assessed, it is understandable to conclude that more had been expected from a driver who arrived with his experience and record.
Esteban Ocon says he helped Haas solve its problems
Ocon nevertheless wanted to make it clear that he does not believe his departure is connected to a lack of performance.
“I would say that lately we can say things have been going pretty well, probably from Budapest onwards,” Esteban Ocon said. “We managed to find much more consistency with the car and, thanks to that, it seems that we have also found quite a lot of performance.”
“And perhaps in the last two races, Madrid and Baku, we could have scored points in both. In Madrid we lost the points position at the pit stop, but we still finished 11th. Lately it has gone really well, and that reflects all the hard work we have done since the beginning of last year: understanding what the problems with the car were, what was happening and working on the weaknesses.”
“And it seems to have paid off, because from these races there is a clearer trend towards having more ‘healthy’ cars pretty much everywhere. So yes, all the work has paid off. Obviously we want to continue like this in the next races as well. It isn’t something we can take for granted, it could become difficult again, but so far it has been pretty positive. We keep going in this direction.”
Haas suffered consistency issues between components
Throughout this season, Haas has encountered inconsistencies in the performance of different components, even when those parts were supposedly of the same specification. On several occasions, parts were swapped between the two drivers in an attempt to understand the origin of the differences.
Ocon repeatedly explained that some of the discrepancies in performance were linked to this issue.
He did not, however, want to use it as an explanation for the difficulties that eventually contributed to his departure. Instead, he stressed the role he played in helping Haas identify those problems.
“I did my job to improve the car. And in the end the whole team benefited from it. It is the result of the work we put into it and of me pointing out the problems. I was the first one to have these problems.”
Ocon: “I work harder than anyone. I deserve to be in F1”
The Frenchman repeatedly underlined the effort he has made to identify weaknesses and contribute to the team, while also insisting that his performance level warrants a continued place in Formula 1.
“In terms of performance, I know I can do well. I have no doubts. I’m always thinking about what I can do to improve my work. If something isn’t working, I always question myself first. And then you start again from there.”
“I’m not sitting here thinking, ‘I’m the best in the world, I can relax and not work.’ I do the work. I work harder than anyone. And I’m not afraid to say that. In the simulator, with the team, in the technical meetings we have, going to the factory: I’ve always done all of that.”
“I deserve to be in F1. I’ve worked hard. We benefited from identifying all the problems very early, from when I arrived at the team, and that was very positive for everyone. So, of course, I don’t think I deserve to find myself in this situation for the future. But, as I said, there are always opportunities in Formula 1. And those are what I’m looking at. I’m looking to the future, not the past.”
Ayao Komatsu accepts Ocon’s speed but wanted more consistency
Komatsu has never seriously questioned Ocon’s speed when everything comes together. The issue is that Haas did not see that level of performance consistently enough, particularly given the expectations attached to the deal that brought him to the team.
When Komatsu secured Ocon’s signature in 2024, the move was considered an important coup for Haas. The expectation was that he would deliver more than ultimately materialised across his time with the team.
“I would say it depends what you mean by performance: performance includes, let’s say, everything, right?” Ayao Komatsu said when asked about Ocon’s claim that the separation was not caused by performance.
“When everything is in the right place, he is one of the quick ones. He has great speed, great talent and he can perform at a high level. When everything comes together, he is outstanding.”
Komatsu nevertheless stopped short of explaining every factor behind the decision.
“I don’t want to go into the details, honestly, because certain things we discuss with drivers remain genuinely private. But looking at the bigger picture, I think for me it was time for a change. As for his outright speed, the performance he can deliver when everything aligns, there is no doubt.”
Haas ready to make room for another young talent
Ocon’s contribution was still visible in Baku, where he helped Oliver Bearman by slowing down to allow his teammate through so that the Briton could defend against Arvid Lindblad.
The broader question, however, is what Ocon means when he says the decision was “not about performance”. Despite his recent improvement, his level across the full period with Haas has not been consistent, and that inevitably weighs on the overall assessment.
There has also been speculation that financial considerations could be involved. A cheaper driver would clearly provide a benefit, but that is not considered the primary reason for the change.
Haas’s alternatives include McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli, who arrives with two consecutive junior titles, and Rafael Camara, the Formula 2 championship leader in whom Ferrari has significant faith. Before being a financial decision, the choice is therefore about investing in another talented driver.
Oliver Bearman also arrived at Haas with Ferrari support, but before taking that decision the team believed it had an exceptional talent on its hands. His performances on track have since strengthened that judgement, and the thinking behind the next choice is similar.
If Rafael Camara ultimately joins Haas, an announcement is not expected imminently. Komatsu also dismissed suggestions that the team would somehow lose its identity by having two young Ferrari-linked drivers.
“If we chose Hirakawa, I’m sure some people would say, ‘Ah, they only chose Hirakawa because he is a Toyota driver,’ right?” Komatsu said.
“If we took Rafa, they would say, ‘Ah, it’s another Ferrari driver.’ And if we took Leonardo Fornaroli, they would say, ‘Ah, now its heart is becoming that of a McLaren B-team, where is the identity?’ So I’m not worried.”
For Haas, the decision therefore goes beyond whether Esteban Ocon can still produce impressive performances on his strongest weekends. Komatsu’s assessment is based on the complete picture, and the conclusion reached by the team is that, after a year and a half in which the expected consistency never fully materialised, the time had come to make a change.
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