Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon has provided a surprising update about his contract negotiations ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. He has indicated that he will not return to Haas F1 Team in 2027.
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"At the moment I'm definitely a free agent for next year," Ocon said during media day on Wednesday. "All these discussions, and there are some certain topics in the background that are out of my control at this moment.
"I'm focused on the track, trying to deliver the best I can and getting the result that this team deserves."
Ocon's contract runs through the end of the 2026 season, and the likelihood of him signing another with Haas has decreased in recent months. The team has conducted tests with several rookie drivers while using the old car.
Ocon, 30, has spent two seasons with Haas. He drove the No. 31 last season and finished 15th in the championship standings after posting an average finish of 12.5. A fifth-place finish in the Chinese Grand Prix served as his best outing of the year.
He has started 14 Grands Prix this season. He has posted an average finish of 13.7 and a season-best finish of ninth in the Monaco Grand Prix. He has amassed three points for Haas.
The Frenchman has made 194 starts in F1 while driving for multiple teams. He has four podium finishes, three of which he posted with Alpine. He scored his lone win in the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix while driving for Alpine.
While Ocon indicated that he won't sign a new contract with Haas, he confirmed that he plans on remaining in F1. He has not considered any options outside of the racing series.
"I'm 30 years old, raced 10 years in F1, but I've got a lot more to give to this sport," he said. "Having won one race and being a couple of times on the podium doesn't satisfy me.
"I've raced almost 200 races, which is a lot, but I'm not happy with what I've done and what I've achieved so far.
"When I see some of my colleagues that I've been racing with, they are all winning races, being on pole and that's where I want to be as well. I've got a lot more to give to this sport, I'm not looking at something else."
