Haas rules out Ocon return as Rafael Camara gets Sao Paulo F1 debut

Haas has confirmed that Esteban Ocon will not return to its race line-up for the remainder of the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Rafael Camara taking the seat for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. BBC Sport reported the decision on Tuesday, following Ocon's removal from the car during the preceding Mexico City race weekend.

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Camara's appearance in Brazil will be his Formula 1 race debut, Reuters reported. The 21-year-old Ferrari Driver Academy member leads the Formula 2 championship and was announced last month as Ocon's replacement for 2027. His first race for Haas will therefore come before that previously announced appointment takes effect. Reuters said he impressed the team during a test in one of its older cars in August.

Team principal Ayao Komatsu said Haas had informed Ocon that he would not regain the seat this season. In the statement reported by BBC Sport, Komatsu described the decision as being in the team's interests and said discussions between the driver and management would remain private. Haas has not publicly detailed the reasons behind its decision to stand Ocon down in Mexico.

Reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa replaced Ocon for the Mexican Grand Prix and finished tenth, according to Reuters. The Japanese driver has World Endurance Championship commitments with Toyota this weekend. Camara now takes over for the race in his home country, but Haas has not announced who will occupy the seat for the races that follow Sao Paulo, BBC Sport reported.

For Ocon, the announcement ends his opportunity to race for Haas again this year. BBC Sport reported that he has made 198 grand prix starts since his debut in 2016 and has one victory. The Frenchman is seeking a reserve role as a route to remaining involved in the paddock, with his racing future beyond this season unresolved.

The change comes with Haas seventh in the constructors' championship, four points ahead of Audi, Reuters reported. Ollie Bearman has scored 23 of the team's 31 points across 19 races. Camara joins that contest alongside another Brazilian already on the grid: Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto, who finished eighth in Mexico.