Komatsu hopes for Haas driver decision by the end of September

The decision is close, according to Komatsu, RacingNews365 reports on 24 September, citing a conversation with Sky Sports F1. The team principal puts speed first, but stresses that Haas also demands a great deal of technical feedback from its drivers. Both drivers must help determine the team’s development direction. Teamwork, commitment and work ethic are therefore important selection criteria for him.

RacingNews365 reports that Ocon himself has confirmed he is available on the driver market for 2027. The outlet considers his departure after this season likely. That does not, however, mean his departure from Haas is certain; a new agreement is not ruled out.

In his article, journalist Ian Parkes names Ferrari junior Rafael Camara as the leading contender to drive alongside Ollie Bearman next year. He points to Camara’s fight for the Formula 2 title and the technical ties between Haas and Ferrari. That status as favourite is RacingNews365’s assessment, not a choice confirmed by Komatsu.

According to the same publication, Haas has also evaluated Leonardo Fornaroli, Jack Doohan and Ryo Hirakawa through the testing programme with older cars that it runs jointly with Toyota. No comparative test results are given. These evaluations therefore do not establish who best meets Komatsu’s criteria.

A final driver choice is not yet known. The end of September is Komatsu’s desired timeframe for making a decision, not a fixed date for a public announcement.