Esteban Ocon Breaks Silence on Haas Exit With Big F1 Statement

Esteban Ocon says he knows why he is out of Haas, but his focus is to look ahead, as he requests not to write him off and that it is not 2019 again.
Haasformally announced the departure of Ocon at the end of the 2026 F1 season, to present a new lineup in 2027 with Oliver Bearman certainly one part of it. The news didn’t come as a surprise, especially after the Frenchman had his share of struggles to put in consistent work.
In his first chat since the announcement, Ocon highlighted how his experience helped Haas identify the issue of inconsistency and how together they got through a solution, which seems to be reaping some results of late. It is still not 100%, but he stressed that it is getting there.
Ocon Relays Work Done Behind the Scenes
He feels that he was signed up to take Haas forward and, in some ways, he has helped them to, in finding some lingering issues. He also replied to rumours about politics inside the F1 team, by noting that he has been straightforward and clear about things rather than go around it.
The F1 race winner accepts his side of things that didn’t work but refused to lay down the reasons for the departure, by focusing on the future rather than the past. When pressed on the repeat of 2019 when he lost his Force India/Racing Point seat to Lance Stroll, Ocon didn’t wish to see it in the same way.
Even if it ends up like 2019 that he has no F1 seat in 2027, he will take it eventually, but for now he refuses to see it that way, stating ‘don’t write me off yet’ and that he ‘still deserves it’. As for the future, he hopes to be on the grid, with full focus on Formula 1 and nothing else at the moment.
MONZA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 03: Esteban Ocon of France and Haas F1 poses for a photo during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Italy at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on September 03, 2026 in Monza, Italy. (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images)Here’s what Ocon said:
Hard Work is Paying Off –
Ocon: “Yeah. I mean lately I think we can say, it’s been it’s been pretty good since probably Budapest. We’ve seemed to, have had a lot more consistency, with in the car and yeah, we’ve seemed to have found, quite a lot more performance, because of that. And over the last two races, Madrid, Baku, there could have been twice points.
“We obviously missed the points in in the pit stop in Madrid where we finished 11th. Yeah, I think it’s been it’s been pretty good obviously lately, and that reflects all the hard work that we’ve put in since quite the beginning of last year, to find out what were the issues with the cars, what was going on, with the finger on the on the issues.
“And it seems to have paid off because there’s much more of a trend that, we have a bit more of healthy cars across the board, since these races. So yeah, all the hard work has paid off obviously. We are still looking to have that in the coming races. It’s not a given, it could come back, but so far it’s been quite positive to keep going like that.”
Inconsistency Played Role –
Ocon: “No, no, I don’t think, that has anything to do with that. I’m just been doing my job trying to get the cars to where they should be, and at the end of the day, it has benefited everyone in the team because we see the result of the hard work that we put in and me pointing the fingers at the current issues.
“Obviously I was the first one to experience that, so it took us a few races to realise that, it was actually there. But we all realise, since quite a while now that this has happened and yeah, it’s clear in everyone’s mind, in the engineering office, so those are I don’t think [it had any affect].”
Focus on F1 and Nothing Else, Still Deserve –
Ocon: “My focus is on Formula One, that is clear, that that’s where I belong, that’s where I want to be. So, I’m not going to look elsewhere, that’s very clear. But you never know what can happen in Formula One. As you guys know, things move every two seconds. So, I’m still working on trying to find a solution for next year.
“You guys will be aware as soon as we have more news, but so far, yeah, our focus is that and to do what I’m trying. I think we done pretty well as I said on the last races and for me that’s the best way to show that, I still deserve to be in Formula One.
“Of course, I need the car that follows, which we didn’t have for many, many races, including last year, so, yeah, if we have that, we should work as it did in Baku, as it did in Madrid, of course.”
Aston Martin an Option to Return –
Ocon: “We will see. This is an opportunity. I mean, at this stage at this stage, nothing’s confirmed. I’m not going to say I go here or there. I keep working, with the team trying to do well and I will assess the options, you know, later in the year. But as I told you guys, everything can happen in Formula One, and I want to be on the grid next year for sure.”
Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll | Photo Credit: Haas F1 TeamLooking at Future, Not Past –
Ocon: “Yeah, it is frustrating because it’s not really the way it should be, but other than that, I’m not going to go into detail in what happens in the past. I’m looking ahead, I’m looking at the future, that’s what’s important. But yeah, I mean, I deserve to be here. I put the hard work.
“We have benefited from finding out all these issues very early, since I joined the team and it has been very good very good for everyone. So, of course, I don’t think I deserve to have this for the future, but it’s as I said, there’s opportunities all the time in Formula One and that’s what I’m looking at. Looking at the future, not the past.
“Again, I don’t want to have any further to comment really on this. Looking ahead, not to the past. I’m not going to comment on the reasons or what could be. I know the reasons. I’m not going to share them, but the reasons are I’m not performing at my best yet.”
Motivation Big Factor, Put Down a Lot –
Ocon: “Yes, yes, yeah, there are still hopes and hope is what motivates me, to stay on track, which is good. It is what motivated to motivates me to do the results I did in the last couple of races. Is what keeps me together, and that’s a nice thing.
“I’ve always had to fight super hard in in Formula One for everything I had, it was never given. I’ve always had tough moments, people pulling me lower than the ground, digging my hole, but I’ve always shown that with resilience, hard work and motivation I can overcome those moments and that’s what I will keep doing.”
2019 All Over, Don’t Write Off –
Ocon: “It’s not it’s not yet the case. It’s not yet the case. We can talk about it in six months. It’s not a 2019 yet. I don’t want to feel 2019 again. If I have to, I will, but as I said, you never know what can happen in Formula 1. There can be opportunities to come. Don’t write me off yet.”
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – OCTOBER 01: Esteban Ocon of France and Haas F1 walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain in Malaysia at Sepang Circuit on October 01, 2026 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Joe Portlock/LAT Images)No Doubts About Abilities –
Ocon: “I have no self-doubt, like, look, last week, what kind of doubts I should have myself? I came to this team for a reason. I was brought in to try and help, which I feel like I did, and that’s why, I will exit the end of the season with my head high, from leaving this project. I’ve benefited in many ways.
“I’ve taught them to diagnose problems, in the car and get the cars back on track much faster than if I was not there because I was the first one to experience, many, many things that we got on top of later on. And I’ve always been very straightforward with all of that, and that’s why I was great to this team of mine. To be straightforward, no politics, straight to the point.
“Those are conversations that we all had before I joined this team and that was very clear to me that to take this team to the next step, we needed to go backwards. And it was really, that we did that, and we gained time on many, many things that have happened, on the technical side of things. On the performance side, I didn’t perform, I have no doubts.
Put in Hard Work As Well
“I always think like, what can I do to do a better job, if there’s something that’s not working, I put myself first always. And then, and then we move from there. But I’m not sitting here thinking, ‘oh, I’m the best in the world’ and I can just relax and not work. I put the work. I put more work than anyone.
“And this, also I’m not afraid to say it, in the simulator with the team, the engineering meetings that we are doing, going to the factory. I do, I do all that since forever. And yeah, I mean, here we are, but it’s not the end. There are still opportunities, as I said, in Formula 1, and I will keep pushing for that one.”
Haas F1 team boss Komatsu shared his side of things focusing on the sound results from Ocon in recent times that show his potential. But he didn’t wish to dwell on the specifics of the decision, despite the Frenchman’s indication that on performance side, he has delivered and did whatever he could.
He feels it is important last eight races not just for their own good but also Ocon, who can show to the world why they can have him in their team. The Japanese also praised the work ethics of the Frenchman, especially in combination with rookie Oliver Bearman last year.
Recent Races Show his Potential –
Komatsu: “I guess it depends what he means by performance. Performance just encompasses, let’s say everything, right? So honestly, like when everything is right, as you can see on the previous races, he’s one of the fastest racers. He’s got great speed, he’s got great talent and he can execute at a very very high level. So when things fall into place, he’s amazing, right?
“So really we focused on, I think I feel like Budapest, he’s done very good job. Zandvoort is the same. Monza our car on the Esteban side of the garage wasn’t working very well, but again he made the best job over there. And Madrid and then Baku he performed so I’m really just looking forward to finish the season really, really strongly with him because we’re all seeing and know what he’s capable of and then that’s what we focused on.”
MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 10: Esteban Ocon of France and Haas F1 and Oliver Bearman of Great Britain and Haas F1 play a game during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Spain at Madring on September 10, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Simon Galloway/LAT Images)No Specifics or Statements to Distract Team Player Ocon –
Komatsu: “Well, I mean I don’t want to go into details to be honest, because certain things we discuss with drivers they just remain very private. But when we look at the overall picture, I think for for me it was a time to make a change. But in terms of his ultimate speed, the performance that he can produce when everything lines up, there’s no doubt.
“Okay, I don’t want to drag get dragged into like some specifics. All I’m saying is, his speed is there and he’s shown that he can perform at the highest level, right? So that’s what I’m focusing on the next eight races because if I say certain things I’m sure you’ll pick up on that particular bit and take it out of context and you write whatever you want. So I’m not letting that happen because our best interest is for the team to provide the best environment for Esteban for the rest of the season and for Esteban to be absolutely 100% focused on every single race he can to perform, right?
Important for Ocon Too
“That’s the best for the team, that’s best for Esteban Ocon. He needs to show to the world how fast he is, and as he’s shown in Baku, you know, he’s a great team player. When we needed him to back off a little bit so that Bearman had the overtake in Baku because he had huge pressure from Lindblad, and then we asked him, he done it straight away and he asked is that enough? We said yeah that was enough, perfect, right?
“So he got to show to the world his speed and then even though he just announced that he’s leaving the team, he can be a team player. He will be a team player, he is a team player until the end of the season. That’s the best outcome for Esteban Ocon, right? So I’m not going to give you guys a chance to write anything other than that to distract him.”
Good Experience to Have –
Komatsu: “Yeah, honestly though his work ethic was very, very good and he brought the experience, right? Obviously he was the first driver we signed who who was a race winner. So, he brought that experience and dimension that we didn’t have as a team and then the combination of having Esteban with, let’s say now 10 years of experience in Formula 1, race winner, proven finisher is exciting new talent like Ollie Bearman, he’s not rookie anymore this year, but last year he was a rookie.
“That was a very, very good combination. So I’m I’m very happy that we signed him in two year and half ago and we’ve had a really a good year and half and honestly I’m just our focus now is very eight more races to really finish it on high. I think that he deserves that and the team deserves that and I’m sure if we are focused on it without any other noise then we can achieve that.”
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