Esteban Ocon dropped early by two teams in three seasons as reserve role beckons

The Frenchman was due to leave Haas at the end of the year anyway. The team had already signed Rafael Camara for 2027, and the increasingly tense relationship was going to end this year anyway. GPblog has already set out the background and what stands out now is how closely this ending mirrors his last one.

In December 2024 Ocon left Alpine one race before the end of his contract, with Jack Doohan taking his car for the Abu Dhabi finale. That decision came after a dip in form. Pierre Gasly had eight point-scoring finishes to Ocon's five, and Ocon had qualified 20th and slowest in Qatar before talks about an early split sped up.

Officially, Alpine said the change let Ocon be released to Haas for the post-season test. He might not have been given that permission had he refused to sit out the race, although Alpine has repeatedly denied this. Ocon made his feelings clear at the time: "this is not how I want things to end."

The two exits differ in tone. In 2024 a departing driver was moved aside for his successor with one race left. In 2026 he was dropped and replaced by Ryo Hirakawa on Saturday at the Mexico City Grand Prix, mere hours before qualifying, and then lost the final four rounds as well.

Ocon knows what life outside a race seat looks like. He lost his Force India drive to Lance Stroll for 2019, and attempts by Mercedes to place him at Renault, McLaren and Williams all failed, so he spent the year as the Silver Arrows' reserve. At the time, Toto Wolff said Ocon "will do a lot of time in the simulator and be ready for a seat in 2020."

That gap year paid off when he returned with Renault in 2020, but it was hard on him. Speaking later on the Beyond The Grid podcast, he said: "I had some very low moments, mentally."

The difference this time is the record that comes with him. When Haas signed him for 2025, Ayao Komatsu said he was "not bothered" by Ocon's past reputation, which was clouded by his on-track rivalries with teammates. Two early exits now sit on top of that reputation.

Ocon is likely to become Aston Martin's reserve driver in 2027 and points to a disappointing spell at Haas in which Oliver Bearman comfortably beat him. Mercedes had already held talks with him about a reserve role in October.

Ocon has said he is willing to take that route. Back in Singapore, it was reported that he'd rather be a reserve driver for a Formula 1 team and look for a way back onto the grid than switch to another series.

There is also an awkward irony at Interlagos this weekend. His last podium was second place at Interlagos in 2024, the circuit where his replacement now debuts.