Haas are reportedly preparing to replace Esteban Ocon with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for the 2027 Formula 1 season, with the French driver understood to have been informed that he will not receive a new contract. The expected change would give the American team an all-Ferrari-junior pairing next year, with Oliver Bearman set to remain alongside the highly rated Brazilian.
The decision would bring Ocon’s spell with Haas to an end after two seasons and appears to have been shaped by more than performances on track. Commercial factors and the support Ferrari is prepared to provide for Camara are both understood to have contributed to Haas favouring the 21-year-old for its 2027 line-up.
Haas reportedly tell Esteban Ocon his 2027 contract will not be renewed
According to PlanetF1, Haas informed Esteban Ocon before this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix that he would not be offered a new deal for 2027. The team is also understood to expect its relationship with the one-time Grand Prix winner to remain amicable through the remainder of the season now that his future has been clarified.
Ocon joined Haas for the 2025 campaign on an initial two-year agreement as part of a completely revised driver line-up. Oliver Bearman arrived at the same time on an initial two-year loan from Ferrari, having already built his reputation through his junior career and his Formula 1 opportunities. Readers can revisit Oliver Bearman’s path from Ferrari prospect to Haas driver for more background on that relationship.
While Haas are expected to exercise the option that would extend Bearman’s arrangement into 2027, the picture has moved in the opposite direction for Ocon. Questions about the Frenchman’s future had grown during the 2026 season as he struggled to make the same impression as his younger teammate under the new regulations.
Commercial factors and Ferrari backing favour Rafael Camara
Haas now appear ready to move in a different direction by fielding two drivers from Ferrari’s junior structure in 2027. Camara has emerged as the preferred candidate to partner Bearman, but his case has not rested exclusively on his sporting results.
Among the factors believed to have influenced the decision are commercial considerations surrounding the Brazilian and the backing Ferrari is prepared to provide if Haas gives him his Formula 1 debut. That support has helped strengthen Camara’s position as the team evaluated several possible replacements for Ocon.
Ferrari have been keen to secure an F1 opportunity for Camara and have promoted his availability to Haas over recent months. The Maranello team’s push came while Haas were also assessing alternative options rather than immediately committing to the Ferrari youngster.
Ocon, meanwhile, publicly confirmed on Wednesday ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix that he would become a free agent for next season. He also acknowledged that discussions were already taking place with other Formula 1 teams as he attempts to secure another seat for 2027.
Rafael Camara had competition for the Haas seat
Camara was not the only driver under consideration. Haas also looked at the possibility of giving Jack Doohan another opportunity in Formula 1, while Toyota-backed reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa featured among the alternatives being assessed by the American squad.
Doohan was given a Testing of Previous Cars outing to demonstrate his credentials. Haas had also recently organised a TPC session involving Camara and McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli, with the running effectively serving as a direct comparison between the two young drivers.
Camara strengthened his case further during Haas’ TPC programme at Portimao, where he also recorded a quicker time than Bearman. That testing work added another reference point for the team as it considered which driver should take the second seat in 2027.
The process now appears to have moved decisively in the Brazilian’s favour. If the reported plan is completed, Camara would join Bearman and give Haas a particularly young driver pairing closely connected to Ferrari.
Rafael Camara could reach Formula 1 as F2 champion
Camara’s immediate focus remains the 2026 Formula 2 championship. The 21-year-old currently sits second in the standings, only seven points behind Red Bull prospect Nikola Tsolov with three rounds still scheduled.
Baku is the next stop before the planned events in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, although there continue to be doubts over whether Formula 1 and Formula 2 will be able to complete those final two Middle Eastern rounds. The wider Baku weekend timetable can be found in the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule.
The unusual Formula 2 programme in Azerbaijan could make the weekend particularly significant for the title fight. F2 is set to hold two Feature Races alongside its normal Sprint Race, giving Camara another major opportunity to reduce the seven-point deficit to Tsolov.
If the Ferrari junior ultimately converts his title challenge into the championship, he could therefore arrive in Formula 1 with Haas in 2027 as the reigning Formula 2 champion. Baku could play a major part in both parts of that story: the battle for the F2 crown and the final shape of Haas’ Formula 1 driver line-up.
For Ocon, the reported decision means attention now shifts towards finding another place on the 2027 grid. For Haas and Ferrari, meanwhile, Camara appears increasingly close to becoming the latest junior prospect to make the step into Formula 1.
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