Former Method 1 driver Jolyon Palmer believes Esteban Ocon is “actually in hassle” relating to his future at Haas amid a “strained relationship” with the American squad.
The 2027 F1 grid is starting to take form after Max Verstappen dedicated to Purple Bull till the top of 2030 and each Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon signed contract extensions with Williams. Consequently, the paddock’s focus has shifted to the remaining midfield vacancies, with Ocon’s seat at Haas being questioned.
Talking on the F1 TV Weekend Heat-Up broadcast forward of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Palmer forged doubt on the Frenchman’s future with Haas.
“I believe Esteban is absolutely in hassle,” Palmer defined. “He is had a little bit of a strained relationship now with Haas. He is not carried out and that is the large seat.”
Alex Brundle, who joined Palmer on the present, additionally mentioned: “Yeah, Esteban’s seat is the one which’s up for dialogue. May it’s Leonardo Fornaroli, who was Method 2 champion final 12 months? May it’s the Ferrari-associated Rafael Camara in that seat, or certainly will Ocon maintain it?”
Ocon joined Haas in 2025. In his first season with the group, he was outperformed by his rookie team-mate Oliver Bearman. Whereas Bearman completed the 12 months thirteenth within the drivers’ standings with 41 factors, Ocon was fifteenth with 38 factors.
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Crew
Picture by: Simon Galloway / LAT Photos by way of Getty Photos
Sadly for the 29-year-old, this efficiency deficit has continued into 2026. After the primary 11 rounds, Bearman sits thirteenth within the drivers’ championship with 18 factors and Ocon is seventeenth with simply three factors.
Ocon spoke about his contract forward of the summer season break, confirming that there was nothing to announce at the moment however hinting that discussions would doubtless happen throughout August.
“After all nothing to announce but,” he mentioned. “The summer season break will probably be fairly busy. We’ll see. For the time being we’re targeted on this race and we’ll see what occurs.
“There’s at all times many choices. For the time being we’ll focus on with the group first. I have been right here for 2 years. I have been satisfied by Ayao [Komatsu] to return right here. The primary dialogue will occur with this group for positive.”
We would like your opinion!
What would you prefer to see on Motorsport.com?
– The Motorsport.com Crew
