Esteban Ocon declares himself a ‘free agent’ amid speculation over Formula One future

Esteban Ocon joined the American team last year alongside British Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman in an all-new line-up. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Esteban Ocon has confirmed he is without a drive for 2027, describing himself as a “free agent” and acknowledging he is in talks with other Formula 1 teams as speculation grows over his future at Haas.

Speaking to media at the Baku street circuit ahead of the Azerbaijan GP, the 30-year-old Frenchman said: “At the moment I’m definitely a free agent for next year… There are things in discussion that are out of my control.” When asked if he was speaking to rival outfits, Ocon replied: “Of course, yeah,” and added “Let’s see” when pressed on whether staying with Haas remained an option.

Ocon joined the American team last year alongside British Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman in an all-new line-up. This season he has three points to Bearman’s 18 and sits 18th of 23 drivers in the standings, though he remains Haas’ most recent scorer thanks to a ninth place in Monaco in June. Bearman, 21, is 13th in the championship.

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Earlier in the year, reports of a rift with team principal Ayao Komatsu prompted questions about whether Ocon would complete the 2026 campaign with the Ferrari-powered squad; he dismissed those claims in May as “fabricated with no foundation”. Haas, who scored in five of the first six races but have been pointless since Monaco, have not yet announced their 2027 driver pairing.

Multiple outlets, however, point to Ferrari-backed Brazilian Rafael Câmara, currently second in Formula 2, as the favourite to take Ocon’s seat alongside Bearman next year. Ocon, meanwhile, defended his 2026 form, insisting: “My performance hasn’t been an issue this year… I’ve performed every time I had the car,” citing his Monaco result and near-points finish in Madrid as examples of extracting maximum from an underperforming package.