Esteban Ocon speaks up: “I don’t deserve to be out” – what will F1’s decision be next?
Esteban Ocon’s ten-year F1 career is coming to a pause – at least for now. The French driver doesn’t have a race seat next year, especially after Haas confirmed they’ve signed Ferrari Junior Rafael Camara.
Ocon isn’t giving up though. He says, “I believe that this is not my last year.” Let’s look at some ways he might stay in racing.
Most of the driver spots for 2027 are already filled, with only two spots left at Racing Bulls. But they usually pick drivers from their own junior team, so that makes it tough for Ocon.
His best chance might be to become a reserve driver for an F1 team, staying involved in the paddock until a race seat opens. Teams like Aston Martin (formerly Force India) or Alpine might consider him since he has plenty of grand prix experience.
But would any team take him for 2028 if a race seat opens up? Ocon has been in F1 since 2016, and while he’s had one big win at the 2021 Hungarian GP, he’s mostly been seen as a solid driver rather than a top star. With lots of young talent coming up, it’s hard to say how likely a race future is for him.
Before the US GP, Ocon said, “I’m here to do my best and get the most out of the car. I deserve to be in F1. There are many reasons why I’m not in next year, but it’s not about performance. I’ve won in every category — go-karts, Formula Renault, F3, GP3, and F1. So from a sports point of view, I deserve this. And yes, I believe this isn’t my last year.”
If F1 doesn’t work out, many drivers turn to sports car racing. The World Endurance Championship (WEC) has ex-F1 drivers like Sebastien Buemi, Brendon Hartley, and Nyck De Vries. The WEC’s Hypercar class uses skills from F1, like high downforce and hybrid tech. Plus, it includes the famous Le Mans 24 Hours race, which is right in Ocon’s home country. Even if he doesn’t do a full season, teams often add extra drivers for Le Mans – something that might interest him.
If Ocon wants to keep racing single-seaters, moving to the U.S. could be an option. IndyCar is growing, with races in new places like Washington DC this year and Barcelona planned for 2027. But some F1 drivers hesitate because IndyCar races on ovals, where speeds are really high and there’s little room to run off the track. Only a few lower-ranked seats are open for 2027, so Ocon would have to start fresh if he goes there.
No matter what happens, Ocon’s determined to keep racing and find his way back into the spotlight.