Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner has delivered a blunt verdict on Esteban Ocon’s future, suggesting the French driver has no place at the team beyond 2026.
Steiner led Haas from 2016 to 2024 before transitioning to MotoGP, where he now serves as CEO of Tech3 KTM following his high-profile departure from Formula 1.
The Drive to Survive star remains a familiar face in F1 media circles and recently appeared on the Red Flags podcast to share his assessment of his former team’s driver situation.
Haas paired Esteban Ocon with young British driver Oliver Bearman for the 2025 season, a lineup that generated considerable excitement heading into the campaign.
Both drivers were signed on contracts running through to the end of 2026, positioning them to benefit from the sweeping regulation changes that came into force at the start of this year.
However, Haas boss Ayao Komatsu made clear after 2025 that he was not satisfied with Ocon’s performances, with the experienced Frenchman finishing behind rookie Bearman in the drivers’ championship.
The difficult pattern has continued into 2026, with Ocon managing only three points so far compared to Bearman’s 18 points across the same machinery.
Steiner was unambiguous in his view when speaking on the Red Flags podcast, stating: “I think Ollie [Bearman] is doing a very good job and Esteban is just like, that’s the maximum he can do.”
The former Haas chief went further, adding: “I mean the difference, it’s so big. I think it’s the biggest difference between team-mates now in the championship. So I don’t think he has got a future there. I think that’s his last year there.”
Several names have already been linked with a potential Haas seat for 2027, including 2025 F2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, and former Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda.
When asked about the candidates, Steiner suggested Tsunoda would face complications, saying: “I think Yuki will be difficult because his connection with Honda, you know, he’s clearly a Honda guy. I think him jumping ship to Toyota, difficult.”
Steiner made his preferred pick clear, concluding: “I would say Camara,” citing the Brazilian F2 driver’s status as a Ferrari junior as the reasoning behind his choice.
Ocon has been part of the Formula 1 landscape on and off since 2016, and was once strongly linked with a future seat at Mercedes before his career took a different direction.
With his Haas contract expiring at the end of this season, the 29-year-old faces a critical few months to secure his Formula 1 future before teams finalise their 2027 lineups.