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Esteban Ocon axed by Haas mid-season and replaced by Rafael Camara
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- Esteban Ocon axed by Haas mid-season and replaced by Rafael Camara
Esteban Ocon will not race for Haas again - LAT Images/Simon Galloway
Esteban Ocon will not race for Haas again this season after being replaced by Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Câmara.
Ocon, 30, was forced to deny reports that a physical altercation had occurred between himself and Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu after he was unceremoniously axed on the Saturday of last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix . He was replaced by Haas' reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for Sunday's race.
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Ocon, who won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, put out a statement acknowledging that a "difference in viewpoints led to a discussion" with team bosses but he "categorically rejected any reports or allegations suggesting that any form of physical violence was used to resolve differences of any nature".
The experienced Frenchman had been unhappy with his team's decision to run him in on medium tyres rather than softs during Friday's second practice session at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, saying "don't do this to me" to his race engineer Laura Mueller over team radio.
Komatsu refused to answer questions on what exactly had happened with Ocon before the Mexico race, beyond confirming that he was "not ill".
Ayao Komatsu refused to answer questions as to Ocon's no-show in the Mexico race, other than to say the driver was 'not ill' - Kym Illman/Getty Images
Haas have not given a reason for the driver change ahead of this weekend's São Paulo Grand Prix.
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Ocon's departure at the end of the 2026 season had already been confirmed, with 21-year-old Brazilian Câmara due to come in for 2027. Câmara will now step up early to partner British driver Ollie Bearman at his home race this weekend.
On Sunday, Hirakawa crossed the line 13th but was later promoted to 10th following post-race penalties handed out to Oscar Piastri and the two Alpines of Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly.
The Japanese driver declared himself "really happy" with his performance but he is racing in the World Endurance Championship this weekend in Italy.
In a statement, Komatsu said that the decision to drop Ocon had "not been made lightly".
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"We have now notified Esteban Ocon that he will not return to a race seat with TGR Haas F1 Team this season," the Japanese said. "Such decisions are never made lightly, as was the case in Mexico City – but then, as now, we feel this is firmly in the best interest of the team moving forward.
"The conversations that ultimately unfolded between the team and Esteban remain an internal matter, and we will continue to respect the private nature of closed-door situations.
"Looking ahead, we've chosen Rafael Câmara to drive alongside Ollie Bearman at the São Paulo Grand Prix. Having excelled in his TPC outing in August, we know Rafa's capabilities and we're looking forward to welcoming him into the team this weekend and working with him through his Formula 1 debut driving the VF-26 in Brazil."
Haas are yet to confirm Bearman's seat for 2027, although it is expected to be a formality. Komatsu dismissed speculation that Bearman's demand for a larger salary was the reason behind the delay, describing the rumours as "absolute nonsense".
