Esteban Ocon has refused to divulge the specific reasons behind his impending departure from the Haas Formula 1 team at the end of the 2025 season, but he insists that performance is not the cause. The Frenchman spoke to the media, including Motorsport Week, at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia ahead of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Ocon's exit from the Banbury-based squad was confirmed earlier this week after he declared himself a "free agent" over the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend. Speculation about his future had been rife since the summer, particularly following reports of a heated exchange with Team Principal Ayao Komatsu in Canada. However, Haas vehemently denied the incident.
In his statement, Ocon indicated that the decision to part ways was not related to inconsistencies in his performances. "I've just been doing my job trying to get the cars to where they should be and at the end of the day it has benefited everyone in the team because we see the result of the hard work that we've put in and me pointing the fingers at the current issues," he said. "Obviously I was the first one to experience that so it took us a few races to realise that it was actually there. But we all realise since quite a while now that this has happened and it's clear in everyone's mind in the engineering office. So those are, I don't think, the reasons."
While he declined to comment further, Ocon admitted that he knows the real reasons behind his departure. "I know the reasons. I'm not going to share them. But the reasons are not performance, that's clear," he stated. This has only fueled speculation about what actually transpired behind the scenes.
Widespread rumours suggest that Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara will take Ocon's seat at Haas. Camara, a Ferrari junior, is considered a strong candidate as his contract would likely be financed by the Scuderia, which also supplies power units to Haas. His impressive F2 performances make him an attractive prospect for the American team.
During his two seasons with Haas, Ocon's tenure felt brief and unfulfilled, but he emphasised that his input has been crucial to the team's ongoing progress. "I don't think that has anything to do with that," he added. "I've just been doing my job and trying to help the team develop."
Ocon's departure marks the end of a tumultuous partnership, and he must now seek a new seat for next season. Meanwhile, Haas is preparing to welcome a new face in their quest to improve their performance on the Formula 1 grid.
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