Palmer warns Ocon is 'really in trouble' as Haas seat comes under threat

Esteban Ocon’s place at Haas is under growing scrutiny ahead of the 2027 grid shake-up, with former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer warning that the Frenchman is “really in trouble” and that his relationship with the American squad has become strained.

Speaking ahead of the Dutch Grand Prix weekend, Palmer was blunt in his assessment. “I think Esteban is really in trouble,” he said. “He’s had a bit of a strained relationship now with Haas. He’s not performed and that’s the big seat.”

Alex Brundle, who appeared alongside Palmer, echoed the concern and outlined the alternatives Haas could consider. “Esteban’s seat is the one that’s up for discussion,” Brundle said. “Could it be Leonardo Fornaroli, who was Formula 2 champion last year? Could it be the Ferrari-associated Rafael Camara in that seat, or indeed will Ocon keep it?”

The scrutiny stems from a difficult spell of form that now spans two seasons. When Ocon joined Haas in 2025, he was outperformed by rookie teammate Oliver Bearman across the full campaign — Bearman finishing 13th in the drivers’ standings with 41 points to Ocon’s 38 in 15th. That gap has widened in 2026: after 11 rounds, Bearman sits 13th with 18 points while Ocon is 17th with just three.

Ocon addressed his contract situation ahead of the summer break, confirming no announcement was imminent but indicating that talks would likely begin in August. “Of course nothing to announce yet,” he said. “The summer break will be quite busy. We will see. At the moment we’re focused on this race and we’ll see what happens.”

The 29-year-old also suggested his first priority would be to hold talks with Haas before exploring other avenues. “There’s always many options. At the moment we will discuss with the team first. I’ve been here for two years. I’ve been convinced by Ayao [Komatsu] to come here. The first discussion will happen with this team for sure.”

The wider 2027 driver market has been moving quickly. Max Verstappen has committed to Red Bull through 2030, while Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon have both signed extensions with Williams, narrowing the available seats and intensifying attention on the remaining midfield vacancies — with Ocon’s among the most uncertain.