Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu: These five drivers are in the running for 2027

Most of the seats on the 2027 Formula 1 grid have been filled, but one is still vacant at Haas: Japanese team principal Ayao Komatsu (50) revealed at Monza which five drivers are in the running for the second seat alongside Ferrari protégé Oliver Bearman, who has already been confirmed.

Komatsu says: “Five drivers are on the shortlist for our second seat – alongside our current driver Esteban Ocon, these are our reserve driver Jack Doohan, the Japanese driver Ryo Hirakawa, the Brazilian Formula 2 driver Rafael Camara and F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli.”

Haas conducted various private tests in 2026, in accordance with the regulations, using older F1 cars. Camara (a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy), Fornaroli (a McLaren junior) and Hirakawa (backed by Toyota) were all behind the wheel at the Portimão circuit in Portugal at the end of August. Doohan is set to take part in a test at Jerez.

Komatsu has emphasised that speed and technically sound performance are what matter. Reportedly, Hirakawa and Fornaroli were neck and neck during an earlier test at Jerez, with lap times not far off those of regular driver Bearman.

Ocon’s experience is a plus, but the Frenchman has failed to score points since Monaco. Bearman has not scored any points since Montreal, even before Monaco, but Oliver had started the season very strongly, finishing seventh at the season opener in Australia, then fifth in China (and eighth in the sprint there), after which Bearman came tenth in Canada. That makes 18 points. Ocon has only managed to finish in the top ten twice: tenth in Japan and ninth in Monte Carlo.

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Komatsu isn’t setting himself a deadline for when he intends to make a decision. Why should he? He holds all the cards.