Esteban Ocon will race for Haas on a multi-year deal starting in the 2025 Formula 1 season, the American team announced on Thursday.
Ocon, the soon-to-be former Alpine driver and winner of the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, will partner Ferrari Academy driver and regular Haas rookie practice driver Oliver Bearman in an all-new line-up that replaces the Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg and the exiting Kevin Magnussen.
The move links Ocon back up with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu, who worked as the Frenchman’s race engineer when he completed his first F1 test for what was then the Lotus squad after he had won the 2014 European Formula 3 championship back (he shared the day’s running in Abu Dhabi with GP3 champion Alex Lynn, with car problems interrupting Ocon’s laps).
“I’m delighted we’ve secured Esteban Ocon’s services for Haas F1 Team,” Komatsu said in a Haas team statement. “I’ve obviously been aware of his talents for a long time.
“He displayed his talents back then coming off the back of strong performances in the junior categories – he’d just won the 2014 European Formula 3 Championship.
“Esteban’s gone on to become an established talent in Formula 1 and of course a grand prix winner.
“The experience he brings, not just from his own talent base but also from working for a manufacturer team, will be advantageous to us in our growth as an organisation.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A524 Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Photo by: Mark Horsburgh / Motorsport Images
“It was vital we had a driver with experience in beside Oliver Bearman next year, but Esteban’s only 27 – he’s still young with a lot to prove as well.
“I think we have a hungry, dynamic driver pairing and I look forward to welcoming Esteban into Haas F1 Team for 2025.”
Ocon had long been linked with a move to Haas in the febrile 2025 F1 driver market, even before his Alpine exit was announced in the aftermath of his costly collision with current team-mate Pierre Gasly at this year’s Monaco race.
Haas has announced the deal as a “multi-year contract” for Ocon, who has so far made 146 F1 starts.
“I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter in my Formula 1 career and join Haas F1 Team from the start of the 2025 season,” Ocon said.
“I’ll be joining a very ambitious racing team, whose spirit, work ethic, and undeniable upward trajectory has really impressed me.
“I’d like to thank Gene Haas [team owner] and Ayao…
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