Rumours of a supposed breakdown in the relationship between Esteban Ocon and Ayao Komatsu have been firmly rejected by the Haas boss, who criticised sections of the media ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix weekend in Montreal.
Following the Miami Grand Prix, speculation emerged that Haas management had grown frustrated with Ocon and were considering replacing the French driver. Some reports even suggested that the relationship between Ocon and Komatsu had deteriorated significantly behind the scenes.
These rumours quickly spread through the Formula 1 paddock, with some reports claiming that Haas could move for Yuki Tsunoda as a replacement.
Komatsu has rejected claims of internal Haas tensions.
Speaking in Montreal, Komatsu dismissed the reports outright and confirmed that there had been no incident involving Ocon in Miami.
“I don’t know where this story came from, but it’s nonsense,” he said, as quoted by RacingNews365.
The Haas team principal also criticised how some media outlets had handled the story.
“I don’t know if this is journalism. What they’re trying to achieve is crazy. There’s no basis whatsoever. It’s pure gossip, and no one bothered to check the source.”
Despite the absence of any real conflict, Komatsu admitted that the speculation had caused unnecessary concern within Ocon’s camp.
“Esteban and his manager are worried, but he knows there was no altercation in Florida,” he explained.
“I personally read the Japanese translation of the news, so I don’t know how accurate it is, but several sites even wrote that I would be willing to hire Tsunoda in his place.”
Ocon’s reputation continues to precede him
The rumours gained traction partly because of his long history of tense rivalries and on-track clashes throughout his Formula 1 career.
The Frenchman was involved in several controversial incidents with Sergio Pérez during their time together at Force India in 2017. More recently, his difficult relationship with Pierre Gasly at Alpine repeatedly made headlines during the 2024 season.
Ocon also famously clashed with Max Verstappen after the 2018 Brazilian Grand Prix, an incident which escalated into a physical confrontation in parc fermé.
This history contributes to recurring speculation whenever rumours of tension inside a team emerge.
Haas is facing a growing performance contrast between its drivers
While Komatsu has publicly defended Ocon, the French driver’s performances this season remain under scrutiny.
He has struggled to make a significant impact in the midfield battle thus far in 2026, earning only one championship point after the initial phase of the season.
Meanwhile, his teammate Oliver Bearman has continued to impress. The young Briton has emerged as one of the surprises of the season, occasionally challenging near the front of the midfield and scoring 17 points so far.
The growing disparity between the two Haas drivers has inevitably intensified speculation about the team’s plans for the 2027 driver lineup.
While Komatsu acknowledged that discussions regarding the 2027 driver pairing would likely progress in the coming weeks, he refused to indicate whether Ocon would remain with the American team in the long term.
Komatsu reveals childhood journalism ambition
The Japanese team principal also shared a personal anecdote while voicing his frustration with the coverage.
“When I was a kid, I dreamed of being an investigative journalist. But when I read things like that, I wonder how anyone can avoid being embarrassed to write them.”
His comments underline Haas’s irritation at how rapidly unverified rumours can spread across the Formula 1 media landscape during a race weekend.
For now, Komatsu’s position is clear: reports of a falling-out with Ocon are unfounded, and the Frenchman remains part of Haas’s current plans, despite ongoing speculation surrounding the team’s future driver market decisions.
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