Schumacher states that Haas might be at risk of losing both their drivers by 2027.

      "I can envision that Ferrari holds the right of first refusal"

      Ralf Schumacher has indicated that Haas might be facing a significant crisis regarding their drivers, as speculation about Esteban Ocon's future intensifies. Ocon, 29, has been under increasing scrutiny this season due to reports of discord within Haas and a noticeable performance gap compared to his impressive teammate, Oliver Bearman. In an interview with Sky Deutschland, Schumacher suggested that Haas may soon find themselves without their current drivers. "Haas is indeed in a predicament," he stated. "I anticipate that Bearman will soon have the opportunity to drive for a larger team." Bearman remains closely associated with Ferrari through the Ferrari Driver Academy, and Schumacher believes the Italian squad essentially has control over his future. "I can imagine Ferrari has the right of first refusal for Bearman if they require him," he clarified. "This implies that if Lewis Hamilton decides to retire, Bearman would likely be gone as well."

      Schumacher was notably more critical when discussing Ocon. "One thing is certain – Ocon isn’t meeting the expectations," he remarked. "At best, he matches Bearman, and usually performs worse. And Bearman is still at the early stages of his career – he’s still in development." The former grand prix champion thinks that Ocon’s future in Formula 1 is now highly uncertain. "I can’t see Ocon racing next year," Schumacher predicted. "That seems almost established, unless a team encounters significant issues." He also suggested that Haas might consider a driver change before the current season concludes. "Switching drivers mid-season is uncommon, but it’s a possibility," he cautioned. "That would involve potentially looking at Formula 2 and promoting a top driver from that series early on."

      Schumacher appeared to confirm rumors that deeper interpersonal problems may be at the root of Ocon’s current situation. "When you meet Esteban Ocon, he comes across as a really nice, articulate person," he noted. "However, he appears to be quite difficult within the team, especially when he’s not performing well." "This was already evident with Pierre Gasly at Alpine, and it seems to be the case with Bearman at Haas as well." The 50-year-old emphasized that internal cohesion is crucial for a mid-tier team like Haas. "You can manage many issues, of course, but not discord within your own ranks," Schumacher remarked. He mentioned that Toto Wolff could play a significant role in Ocon’s next steps. "From what I understand, he’s seemingly a protégé of Toto Wolff," Schumacher stated. "So I’m completely convinced that management is advising him to maintain a low profile."