Ocon thanks supporters after Haas drops him early

Esteban Ocon thanked fans, colleagues and former colleagues who contacted him after Haas dropped him before the end of the 2026 season. “Your support means a great deal to me,” he wrote on social media, adding that his love for the sport remained as strong as ever.

Ocon had been due to leave Haas at the end of 2026 but was dropped early after a dispute with team principal Ayao Komatsu. Tensions escalated at the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Ocon argued with race engineer Laura Mueller over tyre selection in practice. He later acknowledged a difference of views with team personnel and denied reports that any confrontation had become physical.

Komatsu said the decision was in Haas’s “best interest” and declined to discuss private conversations. Ryo Hirakawa replaced Ocon for the Mexican race, and Haas then confirmed he would not return for the rest of the 2026 season. Ocon, who won the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, has no F1 seat confirmed for 2027.