Esteban Ocon is searching for a route to remain in Formula 1 after Haas confirmed the French driver will leave the team at the end of the 2026 season.
The 30-year-old joined Haas in 2025 after previously racing for Manor, Force India and Alpine during an F1 career that began in 2016. His biggest result came with Alpine at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he claimed his first and so far only Formula 1 victory.
Ocon has made clear that he does not regard his Haas departure as the end of his time in the championship. However, opportunities for 2027 currently appear limited, with no obvious vacant seat available on the grid.
His two seasons alongside Oliver Bearman have also proved difficult. The British driver has held the advantage over Ocon in both race results and qualifying.
In the 2026 championship, Bearman sits 13th and is 13 points ahead of Ocon, who is three places lower in the standings. Bearman also leads their qualifying battle 13-6, with an average advantage of 0.144 seconds.
The pattern was similar in 2025. Bearman finished 13th in the championship, while Ocon ended the season 15th, only three points behind. Their qualifying comparison was more one-sided, with Bearman ahead 18-7 and holding an average margin of 0.175 seconds.
Despite the decision to separate at the end of the year, Haas has credited Ocon’s experience and technical feedback with helping the team through the major 2026 regulation changes and the development of the VF-26.
Ocon intends to remain fully focused on the remaining races, continuing to work with Haas while pursuing opportunities to extend his Formula 1 career beyond the current season.