Esteban Ocon says Rafael Camara “deserves a shot” at Haas in 2027, while insisting he belongs on the F1 grid in 2027

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Esteban Ocon said he is fully supportive of Rafael Camara being given his chance with Haas in 2027, but also insisted he should not be left off the Formula 1 grid himself as the team reshapes its driver line-up. Speaking on Thursday in Austin ahead of the United States Grand Prix, Ocon referenced a recent confirmation that Camara will race for Haas next season, describing the move as a well-earned promotion from the junior categories while making clear he wants to remain in the sport beyond this year.

Ocon said he has known for some time that he will not be driving for Haas in 2027, with his focus now on securing a seat elsewhere. Asked directly about whether he thought his current situation could be his final appearance at the venue, Ocon responded forcefully: “Don’t say that.” He said his goal at the race was to extract the maximum from the car and reiterated that he believes he “deserve[s] to be here in F1.”

The French driver argued that the reasons for him not being at Haas next year are not linked to his results. “There are many circumstances why I'm not here next year, but they are not the performance reasons,” Ocon said. He pointed to success across junior ranks—covering go-karts, Formula Renault, F3, and GP3, and then Formula 1—adding that he has won races in those categories and “just thinking of a sports perspective” he believes he belongs on the grid in 2027.

When pressed on whether Haas’ decision could be connected to a Ferrari junior-driver pathway, Ocon said he could not comment in detail. However, he reiterated his central position: “Rafa deserves a shot in F1.” He also said that, in parallel, he does not believe he is the one who should be “out” of Formula 1 given what he has shown in the series he has competed in so far.

Ocon declined to name other drivers who he believes should be making way for the 2027 grid. “I'm not here to say who deserves [to go and] who doesn't,” he said. Instead, he said his view comes back to results, repeating that Camara “deserves a shot … for sure,” and saying his own priority is finding a solution for 2027 while aiming to perform strongly in Austin and in the races immediately after.

For Haas’ other current driver, Ollie Bearman, Camara’s arrival presents a different dynamic. Although Camara has yet to be the only new name tied to Haas for 2027—Bearman is not described as having been formally confirmed for that specific season in the supplied information—Bearman said he and Camara have known each other for several years due to shared Ferrari-linked pathways. “It's funny because we joined Ferrari on the same day,” Bearman said, adding that they also signed at the same time and are only days apart in age, joking about the possibility of a joint birthday party.

Bearman said he views Haas as a strong environment for a rookie start, describing it as “a great place to start your F1 career,” and stressing the welcoming atmosphere and passion inside the team. He contrasted his experience with Camara’s, noting that he believes Camara has been having a “really good time” in the junior formulas and suggested that the step to Haas is aligned with how teams should nurture young drivers.

With Camara expected to arrive with less Formula 1 experience than Bearman, the Briton said he expects to have a greater opportunity to establish himself as a team leader. “To be honest, I think I've shown that already,” Bearman said, pointing to his development not only on track but also in the way he works with the team—how he has transitioned into a leadership role and how Haas values his input and feedback.

Bearman acknowledged that leadership is often not instantaneous, particularly for drivers coming from Formula 2, and he described this year as a “big step” toward cementing his role. He said the extra experience matters in terms of team dynamics and that his growth has been reflected in how the team responds to his involvement.

The Ferrari connection also creates an additional layer for 2027: both Bearman and Camara share ambitions tied to the Scuderia. Bearman said comparisons between the two are likely to intensify, emphasizing their similar ages while noting Camara has less F1 experience. “Of course,” Bearman said, “we're the same age,” and added that, for Ferrari, it can be useful to see which driver they want in the car “in the medium term.” He framed his own goal as putting himself in the best position to be that driver.

Bearman said the opportunity for Camara is ultimately a matter of timing. He drew on Ferrari’s own precedent for promotion, citing the case of Charles Leclerc, who moved to the works team after a single season at Sauber. “It's all a question of timing, right?” Bearman said. He added that his own path has not mirrored that timeline, concluding that the timing behind breaks in Formula 1 is simply the reality of the sport.