French driver Esteban Ocon signs a multi-year contract with Haas F1 Team from 2025 onwards, the American outfit announced on Thursday ahead of round 14 of the FIA Formula One World Championship, the Belgian Grand Prix, the last race before Summer Break.
Outgoing Alpine Esteban Ocon agreed on a multi-year deal with Haas F1 Team, replacing Dane Kevin Magnussen, who will leave the team by the end of 2024 after seven seasons through two spells with the squad at the pinnacle of motorsport.
As soon as Haas confirmed the departure of Magnussen last week, following the decision not to retain the 31-year-old for 2025, the name of Ocon surged as a strong candidate to take on the Danish seat with the team.
MoneyGram Haas F1 Team Principal Ayao Komatsu commented: “I’m delighted we’ve secured Esteban Ocons services for the team. I’ve been aware of his talents for a long time, and our personal history dates back to Esteban’s maiden run in a Formula 1 car – I was his race engineer that day with Lotus.”
“Esteban’s gone on to become an established talent in Formula 1 and, of course, a Grand Prix winner,” he added. “The experience he brings, not just from his talent base but also from working for a manufacturer team, will be advantageous to us in our growth as an organization.”
Furthermore, Komatsu remarked: “It was vital we had a driver with experience beside Oliver Bearman next year, but Esteban is only 27, still young with a lot to prove as well.”
“We have a hungry, dynamic driver pairing, and I look forward to welcoming Esteban into Haas for 2025.”
Ocon will partner 19-year-old rookie Oliver Bearman, who signed a multi-year deal with the team from 2025 and beyond.
Early in March, the young Briton made a long-lasting impression in the Formula One paddock when the Ferrari Driver Academy (FDA) member received a late call-up from Scuderia Ferrari to step in for Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian GP, who has been diagnosed with appendicitis.
On debut in Formula One, the FIA Formula 2 championship driver went the distance, crossing the finish line in seventh place.
Ever since, he has been making free practice appearances with the American outfit, starting at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, then the Spanish GP, and most recently at the wheel of the VF-24 in Silverstone and Hungary; Mexico and Abu Dhabi are next.
Gene Haas, Team Owner of Haas F1 Team, outlined: “It was important to me that we have a driver with a known pedigree in Formula 1, and as a…
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