Is this the end of Esteban Ocon’s time at Haas? “I don’t have a contract for 2027 yet”

Esteban Ocon is set to reach the 200 Grand Prix milestone before the end of this season; the 30-year-old Frenchman is currently driving for Haas, but that is likely to come to an end at the close of the season.

In recent weeks, the winner of the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix (with Alpine) had insisted he was confident he could continue his Grand Prix career. Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, for his part, had led the media to believe that Ocon’s name was on a shortlist of candidates for the second cockpit in 2027 alongside Oliver Bearman.

Now, however, Ocon is striking a different note. The driver who finished eighth in the World Championship in 2017 and 2022 sounds concerned. In the paddock at the Baku City Circuit, he admits: “At the moment, I don’t have a contract for 2027. There are certain discussions taking place, but I have no control over them. I’ll do my best until the end of the season, then we’ll see.”

When asked whether he is in contact with other teams, Esteban says: “Of course I am.” That’s certainly necessary, because when a fellow journalist presses him on whether he’s still on the Haas list, Ocon dodges the question: “We’ll see.”

That sounds like a no.

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Esteban Ocon is currently only 18th in the Drivers’ Championship, whilst his team-mate is 13th. Ocon hasn’t scored any points since the Monaco Grand Prix (when he finished ninth), Bearman hasn’t even finished in the top ten since Canada (i.e. the race before Monaco).

Esteban puts in a bit of a pitch for himself: “Whenever we’ve had a competitive car, I’ve been there. I’m the last Haas driver to have scored points, in Monte Carlo. And it almost worked out in Madrid too. On numerous occasions, I’ve driven beyond the car’s capabilities. That’s crystal clear.”

Rumours are rife in the Formula 1 paddock: the favourite to take Ocon’s place at Haas is the Brazilian Rafael Camara, currently third in the Formula 2 championship as a Ferrari protégé.