Esteban Ocon is set to race for Haas starting in the 2025 Formula 1 season, as the American team announced today.
The French driver, a former winner of the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, will partner with Ferrari Academy driver Oliver Bearman at Haas.
This dynamic new line-up replaces Nico Hulkenberg, who is moving to Sauber, and Kevin Magnussen, who is exiting the team.
Ocon’s move reunites him with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. Komatsu was Ocon’s race engineer during his first F1 test back when the team was known as Lotus.
“I’m delighted we’ve secured Esteban Ocon’s services,” Komatsu said. “He displayed his talents early on and has since become an established F1 driver and Grand Prix winner.”
Komatsu believes Ocon’s experience with a manufacturer team will help Haas grow. Ocon brings a wealth of knowledge and is still young at 27, with much yet to prove.
Ocon, thrilled about joining Haas, remarked, “I’ll be joining a very ambitious racing team. I’m happy to work with Ayao again, who was part of my debut in F1.”
Gene Haas, the team owner, emphasized the value of hiring a driver with a strong F1 background alongside Bearman. Ocon has raced with Manor and Force India and has 146 F1 starts to his name.
According to Haas, Ocon continuously scores points and is always in the mix. This consistency is expected to boost Haas’ on-track performance.
Ocon’s exit from Alpine came after a collision at the Monaco race with his then-teammate Pierre Gasly. Ocon’s link to Haas had been a topic even before this announcement.
Haas has high hopes for the future with a blend of youth and experience in their line-up. They are eager to see what Ocon and Bearman can achieve together.
Ocon’s multi-year contract marks a significant change for Haas, and fans are eager to see the impact this new driver pairing will have in the coming seasons.
