Haas has cut Esteban Ocon loose for the rest of the season after a confrontation with team principal Ayao Komatsu in Mexico escalated beyond repair. Rafa Camara, the F2 title contender slated to join the American squad in 2027, takes over starting this weekend in Brazil. Ocon was pulled mid-weekend in Mexico City following a Friday-evening clash—he denies reports of physical violence, but whatever happened was serious enough for Haas to bench him immediately and install Ryo Hirakawa, who delivered a shock point on debut. The relationship had soured all year, with Ocon frustrated by the VF-26's struggles and convinced his exit wasn't performance-based. Haas kept the details private but made clear a line was crossed. For the American team fighting Audi in the constructors' standings, Camara now gets four races to prove he's ready, while Ocon's F1 career hits pause at the worst possible moment.
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