Esteban Ocon may have felt the heat this season, but it's about to reach boiling point. Haas is set to announce who will partner Oliver Bearman in 2027, and Ocon's name is firmly on the chopping block.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed that the evaluation process is complete and a decision is imminent. "We haven't made any decision yet, but every driver has a closing point in the year to decide on options," Komatsu said. "It just means we haven't decided on that option yet, but that was quite a long time ago. His situation hasn't really changed, we're still trying to find what we're going to do for next year."
Komatsu hinted that an announcement is just around the corner. "Soon, within the next couple of weeks," he said. "We've done all the evaluation, we're just waiting to summarise our findings, have a discussion internally with Gene [Haas] and make the final decision." In a separate interview with Sky Sports F1, he suggested the team could have its plans locked in before the end of the month.
Ocon's position has come under increasing scrutiny. Since joining in 2025, he has scored only three of Haas' 21 points this year, while Oliver Bearman has impressed and is expected to stay for a third season. Ocon's inconsistent form has prompted Haas to evaluate several alternatives through its Testing of Previous Cars program.
Several drivers have tested for Haas. Ferrari junior Rafael Camara and reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli have both driven the car, as have reserve drivers Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa. Doohan returned to an F1 cockpit at Jerez earlier this week for his first Haas test since joining as test and reserve driver.
Komatsu stressed that outright pace remains the first requirement, but not the only one. "What we're looking for in a driver, first and foremost, is the guy needs to have speed, the guy needs to be fast," he said. "That's something that is their talent. We cannot teach them the speed, so they need to be fast, but really they need to be a team player and especially for a small team like us. The two drivers, the integration into the team, how they motivate and drive the team, is very important. It's got to be a character that is very important for us."
Meanwhile, Ocon has made it clear he is keeping his options open. "I'm a free agent for next season," he revealed ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. The Frenchman admitted discussions are taking place with other teams, though nothing is signed yet.
Haas' decision in the coming weeks will be pivotal, not only for Ocon's future but also for the team's direction. With only a handful of races left, every point and every performance will weigh heavily in Komatsu and Gene Haas' final deliberation.
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