The 2026 FIA Formula 1 world championship will close with a significant roster change: Esteban Ocon and TGR Haas F1 Team have confirmed that their partnership ends after the final race. The Frenchman joined the American-based outfit for the 2025 season and quickly became a central figure in the squad’s on-track efforts. While the announcement carries the usual atmosphere of driver movement, the underlying statistics paint a picture of a productive, if brief, collaboration that helped the team reach its second-best points tally in ten years of competition.
Esteban Ocon’s two-year spell with TGR Haas
Ocon arrived at Haas in early 2025, bringing three seasons of Formula 1 experience and a 2021 Grand Prix win at the Hungarian circuit. Over the course of 39 race starts for the team—out of a cumulative 195 entries he has made in his career—he amassed 490 championship points. Those numbers include consistent point-scoring finishes that bolstered the midfield battle and gave the team a reliable scoring engine throughout the season. The French driver’s professionalism and feedback loop with engineers were frequently cited as key ingredients in the steady improvement the team displayed across a demanding calendar.
Beyond the raw figures, Ocon’s presence added a layer of stability to a squad still refining its identity. His veteran status allowed younger teammates to benefit from on-track mentorship, while his ability to extract performance from the car in varying conditions helped Haas punch above its budgetary weight. The partnership, though lasting only two seasons, therefore left an imprint that extends beyond the points column.
Performance highlights and the VF-26 development
The 2025 campaign saw Haas claim its second-best points total since its debut a decade ago, a milestone that coincided with the rollout of the VF-26 chassis. Throughout the year, Ocon supplied valuable input on aerodynamics, suspension geometry, and power-unit integration, feeding data that informed continuous upgrades. This iterative process proved especially critical as the sport approached a major regulation change—refers to the overhaul of aerodynamic and power-unit rules for 2026—requiring teams to redesign fundamental components while maintaining performance.
The synergy between driver feedback and engineering adjustments accelerated the VF-26’s evolution, allowing Haas to remain competitive even as rival teams grappled with the new rulebook. Ocon’s race-craft in qualifying and his consistency during the sprint races contributed directly to the points haul that placed the team ahead of several longer-standing midfield rivals. In the team’s internal reports, his stint was highlighted as a period of “accelerated learning” that will serve as a foundation for the upcoming 2026 car development.
Team principal Ayao Komatsu’s comments and the road ahead
Speaking after the season-ending race, Ayao Komatsu Team Principal of TGR Haas, expressed gratitude for Ocon’s contribution: “I’d like to thank Esteban for everything he’s contributed to the team since joining us in 2025. His professionalism and commitment have proved valuable as we continue to grow as an organization.” Komatsu emphasized that the driver’s experience was instrumental during the “challenging year of major regulation change,” noting that Ocon’s insights were “significant as we worked hard to develop the VF-26 across the season.”
Looking forward, Komatsu underlined that the partnership’s end does not signal a downturn for the team. “There’s still plenty of racing ahead, and our focus remains on working together to maximise every opportunity through to the final race of the year,” he said, hinting at a continued push for points in 2026 and beyond. For Ocon, the separation opens the door to new opportunities, while Haas retains the technical knowledge and momentum generated during his tenure as it prepares for the next regulatory era.
