---
title: "Haas drop Esteban Ocon for rest of 2026 as Rafael Camara gets Brazil debut"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2026/11/04/haas-drop-esteban-ocon-2026-rafael-camara-brazil/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Gary Gowers"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2026-11-04T07:20:04Z"
modified: "2026-11-04T07:20:04Z"
---

# Haas drop Esteban Ocon for rest of 2026 as Rafael Camara gets Brazil debut

**Haas have confirmed Esteban Ocon will not race for the team again this season, with Brazilian Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara replacing him at this weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix.**

Ocon, 30, had already announced he would leave Haas at the end of 2026 but was dropped during last weekend’s Mexico City Grand Prix following a disagreement with the team. Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa took his place from Saturday and finished 10th in Sunday’s race.

The decision brings Ocon’s departure forward by four races and gives Câmara, who was due to join Haas in 2027, an earlier-than-expected Formula 1 debut.

## Haas confirm Ocon will not return

Team principal Ayao Komatsu confirmed the decision in a statement on Wednesday, saying Haas believed it was in the team’s best interests. Komatsu said the discussions with Ocon would remain private and declined to explain the circumstances behind his removal.

Ocon joined Haas from Alpine in 2025 and had been expected to complete his second season alongside Oliver Bearman. The Frenchman, who won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, has yet to confirm his plans for 2027. His early departure follows a difficult Mexico weekend, but Haas have stopped short of publicly identifying the precise cause of the breakdown.

## Câmara handed home Grand Prix debut

Camara, 21, will partner Bearman at Interlagos after impressing Haas during a test in Portugal in August. The Ferrari Driver Academy member leads the Formula 2 standings and has already won the Formula Regional European and Formula 3 championships. His first F1 appearance will now come in front of his home crowd rather than at the start of next season.

Hirakawa, who scored a point on his Haas debut in Mexico, is unavailable because of World Endurance Championship commitments with Toyota. Haas have confirmed Câmara for Brazil but have not announced who will partner Bearman at the remaining races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.

For Ocon, the decision ends his Haas racing career earlier than planned. For Câmara, it provides an immediate opportunity to show what he can do before taking up his full-time seat in 2027.

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