Haas ends Ocon’s season as Camara gets São Paulo F1 debut

Haas has ruled out a return for Esteban Ocon for the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Rafael Camara taking his place at the São Paulo Grand Prix. BBC Sport reported the decision on Tuesday after Ocon had already been removed from the team’s line-up during the Mexico City race weekend. The announcement extends that absence beyond a single event.

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Team principal Ayao Komatsu said the team had informed Ocon that he would not regain the seat this year. According to the BBC, Haas has not disclosed the details behind its decision. Komatsu described the discussions as private and said the choice reflected the team’s interests, leaving the precise circumstances of the split unexplained publicly.

BBC Sport reported that Ocon’s removal in Mexico followed a disagreement with race engineer Laura Mueller over tyre selection during Friday’s second practice session. Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced him on Saturday. Ocon acknowledged a difference of views and subsequent discussions, but that account does not establish the full reasons for Haas’s decision to end his season.

Formula 1’s official website confirmed that Camara will partner Ollie Bearman in Brazil. The Ferrari junior already has a Haas contract for 2027, so the appointment advances his first Grand Prix appearance to his home event. He currently leads the Formula 2 standings and has won titles in Formula Regional European Championship and Formula 3.

Camara also has experience of Haas machinery, having driven the team’s 2025 car in an August test under the Testing of Previous Cars programme. In comments published by Formula 1, Komatsu pointed to that outing as evidence of the Brazilian’s readiness. Camara will race the VF-26 in São Paulo as he makes the step from junior competition.

Hirakawa finished tenth in Mexico to earn a point on his race debut for Haas, Formula 1 reported. However, existing World Endurance Championship commitments prevent him from taking the seat again this weekend. That scheduling clash has created the opening for Camara’s early promotion, giving Haas a different driver alongside Bearman for the second consecutive Grand Prix.