Palmer delivers blunt verdict on Ocon’s Haas future – Esteban Ocon’s future at Haas is coming under increasing scrutiny, with former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer warning that the Frenchman is “really in trouble” as the team weighs its options for 2027. Ocon has scored only three points in 2026, while teammate Oliver Bearman has established a significant advantage in the same VF-26 machinery.
Speaking on the F1 TV Weekend Warm-Up ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix, Palmer pointed to both Ocon’s relationship with Haas and his performance deficit as reasons for the growing uncertainty.
“I think Esteban is really in trouble. He’s had a bit of a strained relationship now with Haas. He’s not performed and that’s the big seat,” Palmer said.
The comments add further weight to speculation that Ocon’s current contract may not extend beyond the end of the 2026 campaign.
Bearman has opened a significant points gap
Ocon’s biggest problem is the comparison with his teammate. After 11 rounds of the 2026 season, the 29-year-old sits 17th in the Drivers’ Championship with three points.
Bearman, meanwhile, has scored 18 points and sits 13th. Haas has therefore seen a 15-point difference between its two drivers, despite both competing with the team’s VF-26.
The disparity is not entirely straightforward, however. Both drivers have previously highlighted inconsistencies with the Haas car, with Bearman admitting earlier in the season that it was “not always a fair fight” between the two sides of the garage.
Ocon has also repeatedly pointed towards differences in the behaviour and feel of his car, providing some context for the performance gap.
Nevertheless, the results have placed considerable pressure on Ocon as Haas evaluates its future driver line-up.
Steiner sees “no future” for Ocon at Haas
Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has already offered an even more decisive assessment of Ocon’s situation.
Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner argued that the difference between Ocon and Bearman has become too significant to ignore.
“I think Ollie is doing a very good job, and Esteban is just like, that’s the max we can do,” Steiner said.
“The difference is so big. I think it’s the biggest difference between team-mates now in the championship. Especially in qualifying.”
Steiner then delivered his clearest prediction.
“If you also take the time gap between the two, it’s always huge. So I don’t think he has got a future there. I think that’s his last year there.”
That assessment is particularly significant because Ocon’s contract expires at the end of 2026. The Frenchman has previously acknowledged that his future remains unresolved, saying there was “nothing to announce yet” and indicating that discussions with Haas would take place during the summer break.
Fornaroli among potential replacements
Adding to Ocon’s concerns is the growing list of drivers being linked with the Haas seat.
McLaren reserve driver and reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli is one of the names under consideration. The Italian has already tested for Haas, driving the team’s VF-25 during a Testing of Previous Cars programme at Jerez in June.
Fornaroli is not the only candidate. Ferrari junior Rafael Camara has also been linked with the seat, while Jack Doohan and other options have entered the wider discussion.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu has stressed that performance will be the key factor in deciding the 2027 line-up rather than nationality or outside influence.
That leaves Ocon with an increasingly straightforward task: improve his results before Haas makes its decision.
With Palmer now describing him as “really in trouble”, Steiner predicting that 2026 will be his final season with the team and multiple young drivers being evaluated, the pressure on Ocon is becoming difficult to ignore.
Haas has not announced that they intend to replace him. However, the combination of his points deficit, Bearman’s stronger performances and Haas actively evaluating alternative drivers means the Frenchman enters the second half of the season with his future firmly under the spotlight.
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