Bild reports talks over an immediate split
Esteban Ocon has roughly two months left on his Haas contract, and he may not see them out. German daily Bild reported on Monday morning that the team is discussing an immediate termination, according to RMC Sport. Neither side has confirmed it.
The story follows a stunning weekend in Mexico City. Ocon was taken out of the car between the first two practice sessions, and Ryo Hirakawa stepped in for the rest of the Grand Prix. By Sunday the Japanese driver had scored points on his F1 debut.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
A radio call, a denial and a lot of silence
RMC traces the origin to a radio exchange in second practice, when Ocon disagreed with his engineer over running medium tyres rather than softs. Since he is hunting for a seat, the team wanted data over lap time. What happened next is still unclear, because neither Haas nor Ocon has given a full account.
Ocon did say in a statement that the two sides differ on events, and he denied any physical violence. Reports had pointed to a possible altercation with team principal Ayao Komatsu. RMC says the decision came from Komatsu with the full backing of owner Gene Haas, and that a driver contract can be ended for serious misconduct.
It would not be the first time Ocon has been benched late in a season. At Alpine in 2024, Flavio Briatore sidelined him for the final race of the year and Jack Doohan took his seat.
Haas has a Brazil problem
Four races remain, starting in Brazil this weekend, and Hirakawa is not free. He is racing the Toyota No. 8 with Sebastien Buemi and Brendon Hartley at the 6 Hours of Monza. The names circulating as replacements are Doohan and Rafael Camara, who is also fighting for the Formula 2 title.
Ocon wants to stay in F1. Only one full-time seat appears open, Valtteri Bottas’s at Cadillac, and rumours have also linked him to a reserve role at Aston Martin.
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