Questions over Ocon's F1 future as Haas put replacement plans into motion with Portimão audition test

GPBlog reported, Haas has rented the Portuguese circuit from Wednesday to Friday for a series of evaluations. McLaren reserve Leonardo Fornaroli and Ferrari prospect Rafael Câmara are set to receive an opportunity to prove their credentials, while Toyota-backed Haas reserve Ryo Hirakawa could also take part.

The test represents a significant moment in Haas’ driver-market planning. While Ocon remains an experienced figure on the grid, there is growing paddock speculation that Haas could be preparing for a split at the end of the season. The team is expected to retain Oliver Bearman, leaving the second seat as the focal point of an increasingly competitive contest.

For Haas, the process offers a rare opportunity to compare emerging talent with very different forms of backing. Fornaroli arrives with McLaren support, while Câmara has Ferrari firmly behind him. Hirakawa, meanwhile, has the support of Toyota, Haas’ technical partner, adding another important dimension to the decision.

Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur has been open about the Scuderia’s desire to help Câmara reach Formula 1. Speaking to GPblog, Vasseur said: “Haas is our partner and together we’re trying to find the best way to get him into Formula 1 next year.”

That statement underlines the political element surrounding the Portimão running. Haas has a close relationship with Ferrari, and Bearman’s expected continuation at the team already gives the Italian manufacturer a substantial presence in its driver line-up. A move for Câmara would strengthen that link further, but Haas will also be conscious of McLaren’s interest in finding a route onto the grid for Fornaroli.

Vasseur also stressed the scale of Ferrari’s preparation for Câmara, saying: “We support Raffa enormously. It’s not just about financial backing.” He added that Ferrari had completed “many TPC tests with him this year” in order to prepare him “as well as possible for next week’s test and for next season.”

Jack Doohan is also understood to be part of Haas’ wider assessment process, although reporting indicates his opportunity is expected to come in a separate TPC outing at Jerez rather than as part of the main Portimão group. That means Haas’ decision is not simply a direct, one-day comparison, but a broader examination of its available alternatives.

The wider market situation may play into Haas’ hands. With relatively few seats available for 2027, the American team can assess multiple well-supported candidates before making a call. But the test is also a clear warning for Ocon with Haas is not waiting passively for the market to develop.

Portimão may not decide the seat by itself, yet it has brought the contest into the open. With Ferrari, McLaren and Toyota all holding interests in different candidates, Haas’ eventual choice could become one of the most consequential driver-market decisions of the 2027 cycle.