Haas considers six drivers as Ocon’s F1 future comes under scrutiny – Esteban Ocon’s Haas future is reportedly under increasing pressure, with six drivers said to be under consideration should the American team decide to make a change.
Speculation surrounding Ocon’s position at Haas has intensified in recent weeks, with reports suggesting the Frenchman could leave the team at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season, or potentially even earlier.
According to Japanese automotive publication Auto Sport Web, Haas has drawn up a list of six potential replacements. The report does not mean a decision has been made on Ocon’s future, but it provides further context to the growing uncertainty surrounding his place within the team.
The six names reportedly include Ferrari junior Rafael Câmara, McLaren reserve driver Leonardo Fornaroli, Haas reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa, Jack Doohan, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
Câmara impresses during Haas test
Three of the reported candidates recently had an opportunity to drive for Haas during a TPC test in Portugal following the Dutch Grand Prix.
Ferrari junior Câmara, McLaren reserve Fornaroli and Haas reserve Hirakawa all took part in the test. While Haas has not published official performance data from the running, Auto Sport Web claims Câmara made the strongest impression and recorded the quickest time of the trio.
Câmara’s Ferrari backing could also make him an attractive option for Haas. The Brazilian is regarded as one of Ferrari’s young talents, meaning a potential move could involve support from the Maranello-based team.
Fornaroli, meanwhile, has the backing of McLaren and is already part of its wider driver structure. Hirakawa offers a different proposition, having already established a relationship with Haas as a reserve driver.
Doohan is also reportedly on the shortlist. However, Auto Sport Web identifies his financial situation as a potential disadvantage compared with some of the other candidates.
Lawson and Tsunoda add Red Bull options
The reported list also contains two drivers currently connected to Red Bull: Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
Lawson’s availability could depend on developments within Red Bull’s junior structure. According to the report, he would become a realistic Haas candidate if he were to lose his current seat, although his performances this season mean there is currently little indication that such a change is imminent.
Tsunoda’s situation is less straightforward.
The Japanese driver has reportedly been exploring opportunities outside Formula 1, including a potential move into IndyCar, after his long-term prospects within Red Bull became increasingly uncertain.
However, Formula 1 remains Tsunoda’s preferred destination. If a Haas seat became available, the opportunity could therefore represent a route for him to remain on the grid.
Honda relationship could complicate Tsunoda move
There is potentially another obstacle surrounding Tsunoda: his longstanding relationship with Honda.
Haas has a major partnership with Toyota, while Honda is closely associated with Tsunoda and has supported his career for several years.
That creates a potentially complicated commercial situation if Haas were to seriously consider signing him. Auto Sport Web suggests Tsunoda could potentially need to distance himself from Honda before such a move could happen.
Whether that would become a genuine obstacle would depend on the precise terms of Tsunoda’s existing relationship with Honda and any future agreements between the driver and Haas.
For now, there is no confirmation that Ocon will leave Haas or that any of the six reported candidates has been formally approached for his seat.
The significance of the report is instead that Haas appears to have a broad range of potential options should it decide to change its driver line-up.
With the 2026 season continuing, Ocon’s position will therefore remain one to watch as Haas weighs its options for the future.
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Realistically, only Camara & Fornaroli are (strong) contenders alongside incumbent Ocon, & Haas’ most recent TPC test also points in this direction.
Auto Sport Web isn’t particularly known for being a highly reliable source for driver market reporting like AMuS, which has only mentioned Camara in Haas context as a successor option, not to mention other signs also point towards him should Haas let Ocon go, most recently by Lawrence Barretto.
However, this article rightly points out the Honda aspect about Tsunoda, which I’ve repeatedly pointed out as an obstacle, & even otherwise, if he truly had a chance or were a superior option, he would’ve already been chosen & announced since he’s clearly a known quantity as an F1 driver, unlike Camara & Fornaroli.
Hirakawa would’ve already become a full-time driver if he ever were to, given his overall career situation.
Likewise, Doohan would’ve replaced Ocon by now, not to mention Auto Sport Web incorrectly emphasizes the financial situation since Haas hasn’t chosen drivers for non-sporting factors at all after Mazepin & will continue choosing purely on sporting grounds.
I actually haven’t seen Lawson mentioned in Haas context before, which further demonstrates the ridiculousness of all these different & sometimes contradictory claims from sources that aren’t highly reputable anyway, particularly since he isn’t even about to lose his drive at VCARB, which fortunately, this article rightly points out.
If likelihood is secondary, people should also speculate on Zhou, who’d actually be a comparatively superior option to all these bar Camara & Fornaroli.
All in all, I’m happy that this article rightly points out certain aspects & as an overall verdict that none of this has even been formally established; hence, the significance of ASW’s report, if anything, is merely that Haas might have a range of potential options should it decide to let Ocon go, which mightn’t even be as black-&-white, after all, if he continues to outperform Ollie round after round.
One has to travel around these days right?
(Referring to the place where I see your comments most of the time, me I’m mostly a lurker)
I hit reply because of the remark about Zhou, is that a “commercial observation” or about the combination of both commercial appeal and “decent racecraft”?
Although I would really love for a Chinese driver to steal the hearts of China and the world, I think he is not the one