Ocon walked out of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday saying he was “one of the best out there”. Villeneuve took the opposite view.
The 1997 world champion was asked whether the P8 finish could sway Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu on Ocon’s future. His answer left nothing to the imagination.
“He’s made his decision. It’s not just how quick he is, it’s also how it flows inside the team. There’s Camara that’s doing well and will maybe be looking for a seat. Ocon has done his time. He’s been there for a long, long time. You can’t feel sorry for him. You should be happy for him. He’s had a long, long career with very little results, ultimately.”
Ocon: ‘One of the best out there’
The Frenchman had already ruled out any expectation of staying with Haas before the weekend, telling reporters he was “definitely a free agent for next year”. His run from 13th on the grid to eighth was only his third top-10 finish of 2026 and easily his strongest weekend of the season.
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He was in no mood to accept the verdict starting to circulate around the paddock.
“I’m one of the best out there and I’m not afraid to say it,” Ocon told Formula1.com after the race.
“I’ve raced with everyone out there, and I’ve always been on par. I’ve won every championship.”
The numbers behind the argument
Villeneuve’s charge lands on Ocon’s raw ledger. Across 194 starts with Manor, Force India, Renault and Alpine, the Frenchman has one grand prix win, the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, and four career podiums, the most recent a second place in the rain at the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix.
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Between those moments have been long stretches of midfield anonymity, a bruising split with Alpine at the end of 2024 and a first season at Haas that has produced only three top-10 finishes going into the closing rounds.
Haas eyes Camara for 2027 seat
Haas is not confirming anything yet. Speaking at Baku on 26 September, Komatsu set a deadline of a couple of weeks for the 2027 line-up.
“Soon, within the next couple of weeks, we’ve done all the evaluation.”
On Ocon specifically, Komatsu said his situation had not really changed and that Haas was still trying to finalise its plans for next year.
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He added that Haas needs a driver who is fast and a “team player, work closely with the team”.
Rafael Camara, the Ferrari-backed Formula 2 race winner and reigning F3 champion, is described as the favourite to take the seat alongside Ollie Bearman. The Brazilian has already tested for Haas, and it is his name Villeneuve invoked as evidence that Ocon’s replacement is already in view.
The next round of the 2026 championship is the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay, with lights out on Sunday 11 October.
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