Esteban Ocon declares free agency as Haas evaluates 2027 driver options

Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, 30-year-old Formula One driver Esteban Ocon announced on Wednesday that he is a free agent for the 2027 season. Ocon, who joined the American team Haas last year, confirmed he is in discussions with other teams regarding his future. Currently 18th in the overall standings with three points, he is outperformed by his teammate, Oliver Bearman, who holds 13th place with 18 points. Ocon remains the most recent points scorer for the team, following a ninth-place finish in Monaco.

Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed that no final decision has been made regarding the 2027 line-up, with a selection expected within the next two weeks. The team is evaluating several candidates, including Rafael Camara, Leonardo Fornaroli, Ryo Hirakawa, and reserve driver Jack Doohan, all of whom have participated in private testing sessions. While media reports suggest Rafael Camara is the frontrunner to replace Ocon, Komatsu stated the team is currently summarizing findings from recent evaluations to finalize their choice.