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The Haas F1 team has announced that Esteban Ocon will not drive for the squad again, making way for 2027 signing Rafa Camara to make his Formula 1 debut this weekend at his home race in Brazil.
Ocon Departs After Strained Relations
Mounting tensions between Ocon and the team culminated in a heated argument in Mexico, which served as the final straw for team principal Ayao Komatsu to bench the French driver. Reserve driver and Toyota protege Ryo Hirakawa stepped in from Saturday onward in Mexico, finishing 10th to score a point on his debut. Haas has now confirmed that Ocon, a free agent next year, will not return to the cockpit.
Ayao Komatsu explained that the team informed Esteban Ocon he will not return to a race seat with the TGR Haas F1 Team this season. Komatsu noted that such choices are never taken lightly, referencing the decision made in Mexico City, but emphasized that the team believes this path is firmly in its best interest moving forward. He added that the conversations between the team and Ocon remain an internal matter and that the organization respects the private nature of closed-door situations.
Camara Steps Up Ahead of Schedule
Ferrari junior Camara, previously signed by Haas to take over Ocon’s seat for 2027, will pilot the VF-26 at Interlagos. The Brazilian driver, who currently leads the Formula 2 standings, impressed Haas during private testing and will start his Formula 1 career months ahead of the original plan.
The final approval arrived on Tuesday afternoon, though Camara was already placed on standby during the Mexican Grand Prix weekend following Ocon’s sudden departure. At the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, the American-owned team utilized Ryo Hirakawa as a temporary substitute while evaluating choices for the remainder of the season.
Decisions regarding whether Camara or Hirakawa will drive for the team in the upcoming rounds at Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi remain unconfirmed, though a combination of both drivers is likely.
Preparation and Ferrari Adjustments
Although Camara has not driven a 2026 Formula 1 car, he enters his high-pressure home debut with prior experience. Throughout the season, he completed five Testing of Previous Cars sessions, driving Ferrari’s SF-25 four times and a Haas VF-25 once.
The session in the Haas car took place in August at Portimao, Portugal, and proved vital in convincing the team of his natural talent. Ayao Komatsu stated that looking ahead, the team selected Rafael Camara to drive alongside Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Komatsu added that after excelling in his August testing outing, the team knows Rafa’s capabilities and looks forward to welcoming him for his debut in the VF-26 in Brazil.
This roster change also impacts Ferrari, as the Friday morning opening practice session initially assigned to Camara will now go to Dino Beganovic, providing the Swedish driver another chance to drive the Maranello squad’s car.
