Haas ends Ocon’s season as Camara gets home F1 debut in Brazil

Haas has confirmed that Esteban Ocon will not race for the team again in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Rafael Camara taking the seat for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. In its driver announcement, Haas named the Brazilian alongside Ollie Bearman for the November 6-8 event at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, bringing forward a change already planned for next year.

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Camara, 21, leads the Formula 2 drivers’ championship and was announced last month as a full-time Haas driver for 2027. The team said his first experience of its machinery came during an August test at Portimao in Portugal, where he drove the VF-25. He has belonged to Ferrari’s driver academy since 2021 and will now make his grand prix debut in his home country.

The immediate vacancy follows Ocon’s removal during the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. According to Formula 1’s official website, reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced him and finished 10th, earning a point in his first race for Haas. Hirakawa has existing World Endurance Championship commitments this coming weekend, opening the opportunity for Camara rather than a second consecutive appearance for the Japanese driver.

Formula 1’s report also noted that Camara has won titles in Formula Regional European Championship and Formula 3. His promotion to the Sao Paulo seat comes while he is still leading the next category on that development path, Formula 2. Ocon had previously announced that he would leave Haas at the end of the season; the latest decision means he will not complete that scheduled farewell run.

BBC Sport reported that Ocon was stood down on Saturday morning in Mexico after a disagreement over tyre choice with race engineer Laura Mueller during Friday’s second practice. Ocon subsequently acknowledged differences of opinion but denied allegations that physical violence had occurred. Haas has not publicly detailed the discussions that preceded its decision, leaving the circumstances beyond those statements unresolved.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu said Haas considered the decision to be in its interests and would keep the conversations with Ocon private. The confirmed replacement announcement covers Sao Paulo: BBC Sport reported that Haas had not named the driver who would occupy the seat in the remaining races after Brazil.