Esteban Ocon won't take a fallback drive outside Formula 1 if he can't land a seat for 2027. Haas cut him loose last week after one season with the American squad, leaving the Frenchman scrambling for options on a grid with few vacancies. "That's where I deserve to be," Ocon said, pointing to his results as proof he's earned his place. He wants another five to seven years in F1—no detours to endurance racing or another series, no matter how prestigious.
If race seats dry up, Ocon will pivot to a reserve role like the one he held at Mercedes in 2019 after losing his Racing Point seat to Lance Stroll. He's still working the phones, still negotiating, but admits there's nothing concrete yet. The clock's ticking. With most teams locked in for next year, Ocon's next move will test whether the paddock still values a driver who's been on the grid since 2016—or if he's out of leverage.
Read the full story at RaceFans
