Lewis Hamilton’s words about Esteban Ocon really stand out now that the Haas driver has been replaced for the Mexico GP.
Lewis Hamilton’s recent thoughts about Esteban Ocon have come into sharper focus after Ocon was suddenly removed from the Haas F1 car this weekend. Ocon, known for speaking his mind, seemed upset about losing his spot at the team and sounded frustrated during Friday’s free practice.
With reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa stepping in, it looks like Ocon’s time in F1 may have come to an unexpected end. Before the United States GP, Haas announced they had signed Ferrari junior and F2 points leader Rafael Camara for 2027, but their second driver is still undecided. Ocon’s removal halfway through the Mexico weekend might have sped up the end of his 10-year career.
After this change, Lewis Hamilton showed support for Ocon, both privately and in interviews. Ocon shared, “Lewis actually came to me in Austin. We talked a bit about everything, but there wasn’t much to say. Still, he made an effort, for sure.”
When asked about the situation, Hamilton had kind words for Ocon. “I’m not sharing what I said privately,” he said. “I didn’t text him — only Lance Stroll did. I thought meeting him in person was better. He’s one of the nicest guys here, always has been. He’s a really charming young man. I don’t know all his challenges, but I imagine it hasn’t been easy. He’s stayed positive, and it’s sad to see him go because he’s very talented and deserves to be here. But when one door closes, another opens. I’m sure whatever’s next for him, he’ll do great.”
Hamilton’s encouraging words remind some of when Valtteri Bottas was under pressure at Mercedes, with George Russell waiting in the wings. Hamilton seemed to stay a bit distant from the challenge then, and maybe it’s the same at Ferrari now. With Haas already backing Ferrari junior Ollie Bearman, Hamilton might not want another up-and-comer like Camara.
Still, Ocon believes he deserves a spot on the F1 grid. He said, “I deserve to be here in F1. There are many reasons I won’t be next year, but none are about my performance. I’ve won in every category – go-karts, Formula Renault, F3, GP3, even F1 races. From a sports point of view, I belong here. This definitely isn’t my last year.”