Haas drops Esteban Ocon for remainder of 2026; Rafael Camara to race at Sao Paulo

Esteban Ocon has been dropped by the Haas team for the rest of the 2026 world championship, the team announced on Tuesday, and will be replaced at this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix by Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara.

Haas released a statement saying Ocon would "no longer compete on its behalf in the 2026 world championship" and confirmed Camara, who has been signed by the team for 2027, will take the seat at Sao Paulo. The decision follows events during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend when Ocon was removed from his car after Friday's running, apparently after a row with team principal Ayao Komatsu, though Haas has given no further details about what transpired in Mexico.

Komatsu said in a statement from Haas on Tuesday: "We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with Haas this season. "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."

Ocon was stood down on Saturday morning in Mexico City and replaced for that weekend by Haas' Japanese reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa. The team said the decision to remove him followed a dispute about tyre choice between Ocon and race engineer Laura Mueller during second practice on Friday.

Following reports in France's L'Equipe that a meeting between Komatsu and Ocon "ended abruptly, perhaps even physically", Ocon issued a statement rejecting those accounts. He said he "categorically rejected any reports or allegations suggesting that any form of physical violence was used to resolve any differences of any nature" and accepted that "a difference in viewpoints led to a discussion with the parties involved".

Ocon has driven in 198 grands prix since making his debut in 2016 and has one victory. The driver looks set to be out of a race seat for 2027 as the only teams with potential vacancies - Racing Bulls and Cadillac - are said not to be interested in him, and he is seeking a reserve role to remain involved in paddock conversations.

Rafael Camara will race for Haas at this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and Haas have not said who will occupy the team's remaining race seats after Sao Paulo this season.