Haas Drops Esteban Ocon for Rest of 2026 as Rafael Câmara Makes Home F1 Debut

TGR Haas F1 Team confirmed on Nov. 3 that Esteban Ocon would not race for the team again this season, and that Rafael Câmara would partner Ollie Bearman at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, according to a team statement (opens in a new tab).

Ocon, who had already announced he would leave Haas at the end of the season, was replaced by reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa over the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. Hirakawa finished 10th and scored a point in his first race. His World Endurance Championship commitments opened the door for Câmara, who is already signed to Haas for 2027, to make his debut early and at home.

"We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with TGR Haas F1 Team this season," team principal Ayao Komatsu said. "Such decisions are never made lightly, as was the case in Mexico City, but then, as now, we feel this is firmly in the best interest of the team moving forward. The conversations that ultimately unfolded between the team and Esteban remain an internal matter, and we will continue to respect the private nature of closed-door situations."

Komatsu said the team knew Câmara's ability from his test outing in August. "Having excelled in his TPC outing in August, we know Rafa's capabilities and we're looking forward to welcoming him into the team this weekend," he said.

Who is Rafael Câmara

Câmara, 21, leads the FIA Formula 2 standings and has been a member of the Ferrari Driver Academy since 2021. He has won titles in the Formula Regional European Championship and Formula 3, according to Formula 1 (opens in a new tab). Haas announced him in October as one of its full-time drivers for 2027. His first laps with the team came in a Testing of Previous Cars session in August, when he drove the VF-25 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal.

Ocon leaves with seven points this season, according to the official standings (opens in a new tab). His last race for the team was the United States Grand Prix in Austin, where he finished 14th.

A tricky debut at Interlagos

Câmara's weekend in Sao Paulo covered every condition. Practice was dry, but rain hit qualifying. He hit the barriers in Q1, got back to the pits with a broken front wing and went out again to set a lap good enough for Q2, then locked up and crashed at the end of that session.

"I was just a bit unlucky in the last corner, locking up, and then trying to make the corner, but it was really not possible," he said, according to Formula 1 (opens in a new tab).

He started 11th after grid penalties ahead of him, lost ground at the start in the wet and finished 20th. "It was a weekend where I think I must've nearly experienced everything, so I've learned a lot for the future," Câmara said.

"He made some mistakes, but overall, I think they were very challenging conditions to make your debut, so well done to him for completing this race without any big issues," Komatsu said. "We know he has performance, he has speed, it's just about consistency and delivering it."

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur said Câmara's pace on Saturday was "impressive."

Bearman started in the top 10 and finished 17th after a slow pit stop. Haas left Brazil seventh in the constructors' standings with 31 points, three ahead of Audi, with three races to go.

Ryo Hirakawa scored a point on debut in Mexico City, and Câmara finished 20th in his debut at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Elsewhere in the 2027 market, Racing Bulls have yet to name either driver and Cadillac has extended Sergio Perez.

Sources: TGR Haas F1 Team, Formula 1. More Formula 1 coverage on Undrafted.

Photo: TGR Haas F1 Team via X