Haas has ended Esteban Ocon’s 2026 Formula 1 campaign ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix, replacing the experienced French driver with Brazilian rookie Rafael Camara. The move accelerates Camara’s planned arrival from 2027 and leaves the reasons for Ocon’s exit largely behind closed doors.

The team said Ocon would no longer compete for it this season, with Camara joining Ollie Bearman at Interlagos for his F1 debut. Team principal Ayao Komatsu described the change as being “firmly in the best interest of the team moving forward,” while stressing that discussions between Haas and Ocon would remain private.¹

That position contrasts with Ocon’s public response to reporting around the Mexico City weekend, when Haas had already substituted him with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa. Ocon acknowledged that “a difference in viewpoints led to a discussion,” but said he “categorically reject[ed]” claims that any physical violence had been used.¹

Reports link the Mexico decision to a dispute involving Ocon and race engineer Laura Mueller over tyre selection during practice, though Haas has not set out a detailed account of what occurred. The team’s statement offers no explanation beyond its assessment of what serves its future, while Ocon’s comments focus on drawing a clear boundary between a professional disagreement and allegations he says are untrue.²

For Camara, the development is a sharp change in timetable. The Ferrari academy driver had been announced as a Haas signing for 2027, but will now make his first start on home soil in Brazil. Haas has not publicly named its driver plans for the remaining rounds after São Paulo, meaning Camara’s promotion resolves the immediate vacancy without fully clarifying the season’s longer-term lineup.¹