Five Contenders to Replace Esteban Ocon at Haas for the 2027 F1 Season

Esteban Ocon’s Haas exit opens 2027 Formula 1 seat

Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 campaign, bringing an early end to a partnership that had initially been viewed as a major opportunity for the American team. Ocon joined Haas for the 2025 season after eight seasons of Formula 1 experience, including four podiums and a victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Frenchman became Haas’ first grand prix-winning driver and was expected to lead the team through the sport’s new regulations alongside rookie Oliver Bearman. However, the relationship has failed to deliver the anticipated results. Ocon has scored 45 points during their 18 months together, compared with Bearman’s 61, while the younger driver has consistently outperformed his more experienced team-mate.

Haas has not yet confirmed Ocon’s replacement for 2027. With Bearman already established as one half of the team’s future line-up, several drivers are now being considered for the vacant seat. The leading possibilities include rising Formula 2 prospects, current reserve drivers and experienced Formula 1 competitors seeking a route back into a full-time seat.

Leonardo Fornaroli: McLaren talent with Haas links

Leonardo Fornaroli is one of the clearest candidates for Haas’ second seat in 2027. The 21-year-old Italian became a Formula 2 champion before serving as McLaren’s test driver in 2026, placing him among the latest junior-category champions forced to wait for an immediate Formula 1 opportunity.

Fornaroli has impressed McLaren through his development work and free-practice appearances at Barcelona and Budapest. His strongest showing came in Barcelona, where he finished fifth and was only half a second behind Oscar Piastri.

“It’s a very deserved opportunity,” beamed McLaren team boss Andrea Stella in Spain. “We have worked with Leonardo for some months now. We have appreciated massively his attitude as a person and as a driver.

“He is actually a very interesting character. He looks timid, but by far he is the most proactive driver in asking the engineers, he goes around with his notebook, takes several notes and as soon as he has an idea, he shares it.”

Fornaroli won the Formula 3 and Formula 2 championships in consecutive seasons. His F3 title came without a race victory, as he relied on exceptional consistency before carrying that strength into Formula 2. McLaren remains keen to retain control of the Italian and could make him available to Haas on loan if an agreement is reached.

“Leonardo is certainly an asset for Formula 1 in the future,” said Stella. Fornaroli completed a two-day Testing of Previous Cars programme for Haas at Jerez in June, further strengthening his connection with the team. If a Formula 1 seat does not become available, McLaren could also place him in one of its IndyCar or World Endurance Championship projects.

Ryo Hirakawa: The straightforward internal promotion

Ryo Hirakawa could provide Haas with the most direct replacement option. The 32-year-old Japanese driver joined the organisation in 2025 after working with McLaren and Alpine, with his Toyota connections playing an important role. Toyota is a Haas partner and title sponsor, providing design, technical and manufacturing services.

Although Hirakawa is best known for his sportscar achievements, he has significant single-seater experience in Japan. He won the 2012 Japanese Formula 3 Championship, claimed four Super Formula victories and finished runner-up in the championship during nine seasons in the category. He has also completed several Testing of Previous Cars programmes for Haas.

Hirakawa’s strongest results have come in endurance racing. He won the 2017 Super GT title, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 2022 and 2023 World Endurance Championship crowns. He is also leading the 2026 WEC standings with Toyota.

Promoting Hirakawa would nevertheless be an unconventional decision, particularly because he is two years older than Ocon. If Hirakawa leaves the WEC programme, Toyota is understood to be ready to sign its junior driver Esteban Masson—not Esteban Ocon—as his replacement.

Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson remain Formula 1 alternatives

Yuki Tsunoda is another Japanese driver who could be available to Haas. The 26-year-old is seeking a seat for the 2027 campaign after four seasons with Team Faenza and its various identities. During that period, Tsunoda outperformed team-mates including Daniel Ricciardo and Nyck de Vries.

Red Bull promoted Tsunoda to its senior team at the start of 2025 after Liam Lawson struggled in the opening two grands prix. However, Tsunoda found it difficult to match Max Verstappen and finished 17th in the standings, while Verstappen ended the season second. Tsunoda was subsequently moved into a Red Bull reserve role for 2026, with Isack Hadjar taking his place.

An injury to Hadjar created another opportunity for Tsunoda when Lawson moved to Red Bull and Tsunoda returned to Racing Bulls for the Dutch, Italian and Spanish grands prix. He scored a point at Monza and narrowly missed another result at Zandvoort.

“I’m super happy, I enjoyed this qualifying so much,” said Tsunoda after taking 12th on Saturday at Zandvoort. “I missed this kind of feeling, chasing the last few milliseconds. I was able to get used to it faster than I expected.”

After the Zandvoort race, Tsunoda made a public appeal for Formula 1 teams to “call me”. Haas could be an option, but Tsunoda remains affiliated with Honda, which is a rival of Toyota. That relationship could complicate any move to Haas and potentially make a return to a full-time seat dependent on a change in allegiances.

Liam Lawson faces a different career decision. The 24-year-old New Zealander made his Formula 1 debut for Team Faenza in 2023 as a replacement for the injured Daniel Ricciardo. He returned for the final eight rounds of 2024 before beginning his first full season in 2025.

Lawson started the first two grands prix of 2025 with Red Bull but was moved back to its sister team after struggling for pace. He is now ninth in the standings with a career-best 59 points, although Racing Bulls is currently the leading midfield team. A move to Haas could therefore mean stepping down the competitive order, even if it offered Lawson a clearer long-term route away from Red Bull’s junior structure.

With Nikola Tsolov second in the Formula 2 standings and Lawson’s team-mate Arvid Lindblad making an impression as a teenage rookie, Red Bull must decide how to manage its driver programme. Lawson may remain with Racing Bulls in 2027, but replacing Ocon at Haas could become an alternative if he believes it offers greater security.

Rafael Camara emerges as a leading contender

Rafael Camara may be the strongest candidate to replace Ocon. The 21-year-old Brazilian leads the 2026 Formula 2 standings after following his Formula 3 championship with an impressive first season at the next level. Camara also won the 2024 Formula Regional European Championship, giving him titles in every category he has contested at that level.

Camara won the F3 championship in his rookie season, whereas Fornaroli took his title in his second year. His immediate success has strengthened the view that Camara has the raw speed and adaptability required for Formula 1.

Qualifying has been a particular strength in 2026. Camara has taken five poles, matching Oscar Piastri’s rookie total from 2021. With two rounds remaining in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, Camara leads Tsolov by seven points. Those events are subject to taking place amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Camara also demonstrated his ability to adapt quickly in Formula 3, taking pole position at four of the opening five rounds. He has not yet appeared in a Formula 1 practice session, but he is understood to have impressed during a recent Testing of Previous Cars programme at Portimao.

His Ferrari academy status could make Camara especially attractive to Haas, which uses Ferrari engines. Ferrari is reportedly keen for Camara to join Bearman, another member of its junior programme. A Haas pairing of Bearman and Camara could also give Ferrari a close view of two potential future candidates to replace Lewis Hamilton.

Why This Matters

Haas’ decision will shape both its 2027 driver line-up and its relationship with Ferrari, Toyota and the wider Formula 1 junior-driver market. Fornaroli and Camara represent the next generation of championship-winning talent, while Hirakawa offers continuity through Haas’ existing reserve structure and Toyota partnership.

Tsunoda and Lawson would bring more Formula 1 experience, but both face questions about their current affiliations and long-term positioning. Haas must therefore balance immediate performance, technical relationships and future development potential as it searches for Ocon’s replacement alongside Oliver Bearman.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Esteban Ocon leave Haas?

Esteban Ocon will leave Haas at the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Who are the leading candidates to replace Esteban Ocon?

Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara are the leading candidates mentioned, while Ryo Hirakawa, Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson are also potential options.

Who will remain at Haas in 2027?

Oliver Bearman is expected to remain with Haas, but the team has not yet confirmed his 2027 team-mate.