Five Names, One Haas Seat: Who Replaces Ocon in 2027?

While Esteban Ocon is already packing his bags at the end of the season, Haas is shuffling through five names for his replacement — and not one of them is an obvious slam dunk. Top of the pile is Rafael Camara, the Formula 2 championship leader and a Ferrari Academy product (which, unsurprisingly, is actively lobbying for him) — five poles as a rookie speak for themselves, and a recent Portimao test only cemented his status as the clear favourite.

Leonardo Fornaroli, McLaren’s test driver and reigning F2 champion, is no afterthought either — fifth in FP1 at Barcelona plus a TPC programme at Jerez have caught eyes, with Andrea Stella personally praising his attitude. Haas’s own reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa brings a handy connection to Toyota, the team’s title sponsor, along with a Le Mans win, but his single-seater resume outside Japan is thin.

Yuki Tsunoda is chasing redemption after his Red Bull demotion, though his Honda ties sit awkwardly with a Ferrari-powered team. And Liam Lawson, ninth in the standings with Racing Bulls, would be a tough sell as a “promotion” to most fans.

Source: Autosport (https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/five-contenders-to-replace-esteban-ocon-at-haas-for-f1-2027/10860261/)