News Summary
- Esteban Ocon is unlikely to race for Haas again in 2026, according to French newspaper L’Équipe, following his sudden withdrawal from the Mexican Grand Prix.
- The French publication reports an altercation between Ocon and team principal Ayao Komatsu, following a tense radio exchange with race engineer Laura Mueller during Friday’s FP2.
- Haas has not confirmed the reported confrontation, while Komatsu has ruled out illness but refused to explain the decision or clarify Ocon’s future.
Esteban Ocon is unlikely to return to the Haas cockpit before the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season following a reported confrontation with team principal Ayao Komatsu at the Mexican Grand Prix. According to French newspaper L’Équipe, an altercation between the driver and his team boss preceded Haas’s unexpected decision to remove Ocon from the remainder of the weekend, replacing him with reserve driver Ryō Hirakawa.
The French publication reported that Ocon would probably not race again for Haas this year, suggesting his departure could be brought forward by four Grands Prix. The team has not confirmed that his 2026 campaign is over, nor has it publicly acknowledged the alleged confrontation with Komatsu.
L’Équipe reports confrontation after tense Friday at Haas
The report follows an increasingly tense sequence of events during Friday’s practice sessions at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Ocon missed FP1 because Hirakawa was completing a scheduled reserve-driver appearance, before returning to the car for FP2 and finishing 13th.
During the session, the Frenchman challenged race engineer Laura Mueller over a change to his running programme. Haas wanted him to switch from soft to medium tyres for a longer run, but Ocon objected.
The disagreement was heard over the team radio, with the driver expressing frustration at the change.
According to L’Équipe, Ocon subsequently had an altercation with Komatsu, after which Haas announced his withdrawal on Saturday morning.
The newspaper’s headline also raises the possibility of a physical confrontation. However, the publicly available information does not establish whether physical contact occurred, and the allegation has not been independently confirmed.
Other reports have described a heated discussion during Haas’s post-practice debrief, but the precise circumstances remain disputed.
Komatsu refuses to explain Ocon’s withdrawal
Speaking to Sky Sports F1 during Saturday’s FP3, Komatsu confirmed that Ocon was not suffering from an illness.
“I can’t tell you much, but at least I can tell you that he’s not ill,” the Haas team principal said.
Asked whether the radio disagreement had contributed to the decision, Komatsu again refused to provide details.
Komatsu’s first public comments on Ocon’s unexpected withdrawal offered no explanation for the substitution or indication of whether the Frenchman would return at Interlagos.
The FIA authorised Hirakawa to replace Ocon for the remainder of the Mexican Grand Prix, but the official decision did not identify the reason for Haas’s request.
Komatsu has denied reports of a dispute with Ocon, according to Reuters, a position that contrasts with the account published by L’Équipe.
Ocon’s future uncertain as Haas considers São Paulo options
Ocon was already scheduled to leave Haas at the end of 2026, with Rafael Câmara confirmed as his replacement for next season.
However, the Frenchman’s withdrawal in Mexico has raised questions about whether he will participate in any of the remaining four rounds.
Hirakawa is scheduled to compete for Toyota in the World Endurance Championship finale at Monza on November 8, the same day as the São Paulo Grand Prix.
That commitment could complicate Haas’s plans if the team decides not to reinstate Ocon.
Câmara is another possible option. The Brazilian has 62 calculated FIA super licence points, exceeding the minimum requirement of 40, although Haas has not announced an early debut.
The situation also recalls Ocon’s removal from Alpine’s line-up before the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when Jack Doohan replaced him for the final race of the season.
Haas has only formally confirmed Hirakawa’s participation in Mexico, leaving the team’s plans for São Paulo, Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi unresolved.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the Mexican Grand Prix this weekend, with breaking news, full coverage and real-time updates in its Formula 1 section.
