Esteban Ocon Declares Himself a “Free Agent” as Haas Weighs His Formula 1 Future for 2027

• Esteban Ocon says he is “definitely a free agent for next year” as Haas continues sorting out its 2027 driver lineup.
• Ocon has scored just three points this season, well behind teammate Oliver Bearman’s 18, fueling speculation over his seat.
• Bearman believes his own future is close to settled and wants to stay at Haas for a third season together.

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“I’ve Got a Lot More to Give to This Sport”

Esteban Ocon has confirmed he is “definitely a free agent for next year” amid growing speculation over his Formula 1 future, adding that he still has “a lot more to give to this sport” as he waits for Haas to settle its driver plans for 2027.

The Frenchman has been at the centre of rumours through much of this season suggesting Haas will not retain him for next year, rumours that included Ocon denying a rift with the team ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix back in May.

Discussions “Out of My Control”

Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Ocon admitted talks with Haas are still ongoing, while hinting other conversations could also be happening behind the scenes to keep him on the grid in 2027.

“At the moment I’m definitely a free agent for next year,” Ocon said on Wednesday’s media day in Baku. “All these discussions, and there are some certain topics in the background that are out of my control at this moment. I’m focused on the track, trying to deliver the best I can and getting the result that this team deserves.”

Ocon has amassed just three points for Haas so far this season, scored in Japan and Monaco, the latter the last time a Haas car finished inside the top ten.

“I’m Not Happy With What I’ve Achieved So Far”

Asked whether he had considered a future outside Formula 1 altogether, Ocon ruled it out firmly. “No. Everything that we’re looking at is in F1,” he said.

“I’m 30 years old, raced 10 years in F1, but I’ve got a lot more to give to this sport. Having won one race and being a couple of times on the podium doesn’t satisfy me. I’ve raced almost 200 races, which is a lot, but I’m not happy with what I’ve done and what I’ve achieved so far.

“When I see some of my colleagues that I’ve been racing with, they are all winning races, being on pole and that’s where I want to be as well. I’ve got a lot more to give to this sport, I’m not looking at something else.”

Ocon’s F1 career now spans a decade, built around a single victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix for Alpine and three further podium finishes.

Bearman Backs Himself to Stay

While Ocon’s position remains unresolved, teammate Oliver Bearman has scored 18 points for Haas this year, including a fifth-place finish in China, though his own form has cooled as the team has lost pace relative to its rivals in recent months.

Bearman has not been formally confirmed by Haas either, but heading into Saturday’s race in Baku, he believes his seat is close to secure. “The final decision is not really in my hands but I’m prepared to stay with Haas next year,” he said. “I think that’s what will end up happening and to be honest I think that’s a good success because it would be the third year we’re together.

“Even the fourth almost because we started out almost at the end of 2023. It’s been a while that I’ve been developing, growing and learning with this team. I really love the trajectory we’re on. We’ve had a rough patch recently but we’ve proved many times and will continue to prove we’ll fight and punch above our weight.”

A Haas Seat That Remains Wide Open

Team principal Ayao Komatsu has repeatedly declined to guarantee either driver’s place for next year, saying the team is not rushing its decision and wants performance, rather than reputation or history, to guide the call. “We’re not in any rush,” Komatsu said in the build-up to a previous race weekend. “We’re focused on our two drivers, Ollie and Esteban, trying to get the best out of them. They’ve got the tough challenge, right? You know what they’re capable of.”

That leaves Ocon’s fate tied to results over the closing rounds of the season, with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, and the Malaysia and Singapore races that follow it in a triple-header, offering him a direct chance to close the points gap to Bearman and strengthen his case before Haas makes its call.

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Written by

Jack Renn

Jack Renn is an editor at F1 Chronicle and a veteran motorsport journalist with 25 years of experience covering Formula 1 and international motorsport. A member of the Association Internationale de la Presse Sportive (AIPS), the global body representing accredited sports journalists, Jack has spent his career reporting from paddocks and press rooms across the F1 calendar. His work spans race analysis, technical insight, and in-depth features, giving readers authoritative coverage grounded in decades of firsthand experience at the highest level of the sport.

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