Haas drops Ocon, names Camara for Sao Paulo — SkimNews
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- Haas permanently dropped Esteban Ocon and said he would "no longer compete on its behalf in the 2026 world championship."
- Rafael Camara will replace Ocon at this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix; the Brazilian rookie has been signed by Haas for 2027, while the team has not said who drives after Sao Paulo.
- Ryo Hirakawa, Haas’s Japanese reserve driver, replaced Ocon on Saturday morning in Mexico City after a dispute with race engineer Laura Mueller over tyre choice during Friday’s second practice.
- Ayao Komatsu said Tuesday that Ocon would not return to a Haas race seat this season and that their discussions remained internal; Haas gave no details about what led to the Mexico decision.
- Esteban Ocon admitted that a difference in viewpoints led to a discussion but categorically rejected reports of physical violence; L’Equipe had reported that his meeting with Komatsu ended abruptly and "perhaps even physically."
- Esteban Ocon has driven in 198 grands prix since his 2016 debut and has one victory. Racing Bulls and Cadillac are said not to be interested in him for 2027, while he is seeking a reserve drive to remain in paddock conversations.
Why it matters: Ocon loses his Haas race seat for the rest of the 2026 season, with Rafael Camara assigned at Sao Paulo and no successor named for later races. The 198-grand-prix veteran is seeking a reserve role while Racing Bulls and Cadillac are said not to be interested in him for 2027.
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