Ocon dismisses increasing rumors about a potential departure from Haas.

      "Esteban Ocon has dismissed growing rumors suggesting that Haas is set to replace him for the 2027 season. The French driver finds himself increasingly associated with a possible exit as the Formula 1 driver market heats up during the Austrian GP, with various names already being linked to the seat beside Oliver Bearman. Among the candidates is Ferrari-backed Rafael Camara, as well as reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli, who has McLaren’s support and recently tested for Haas in Jerez. Current Red Bull reserve Yuki Tsunoda has also been mentioned, with Haas’ strong Toyota connections and team principal Ayao Komatsu’s Japanese links potentially boosting his chances.

      However, Ocon maintains that he has the complete confidence of the team. "The team trusts me, Ayao trusts me," he stated. "I think Ayao already addressed this in Canada. I’ve discussed many of these matters in Canada. My focus is on doing everything we can as a team to enhance performance. So, I’m at ease, striving to do my best and concentrating on the right objectives."

      The 29-year-old expressed frustration regarding the ongoing rumors in the paddock. "People can say whatever they wish, but honestly, I couldn’t care less. My priority is to do my job well."

      Ocon acknowledged that Haas' recent performance has been disappointing. "The last three or four races have been quite challenging for the entire team," he noted. "Naturally, we’ve accumulated a few points, but not enough, certainly not as we intended, and we need to get back on track. We deserve it; we’ve put in a lot of effort, but it hasn’t yet yielded results."

      He is also not considering the year 2027 at this point. "Which race are we currently in, seventh or eighth?" Ocon remarked. "As a driver, I need to concentrate on my on-track performance. Everything else will follow. Clearly, we have more pressing issues with the car than that right now. So that is our primary concern. If we fix the car issues and improve our performance, everything will become simpler."

      He concluded, "There will always be discussions. When one looks closer and understands why I haven’t accumulated many points this year, we are aware of the real reasons internally, within the team and among our close associates, and that is what matters most. We recognize that we are on the right path. Now we need to make it bear fruit."