Esteban Ocon has made his future career plans very clear, as his time with Haas Formula 1 team draws nearer.
The Frenchman’s exit from the Banbury-based squad was confirmed ahead of last weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia, ending months of speculation.
Ocon is expected to be replaced in the Haas team by Formula 2 championship leader Rafael Camara, a fellow Ferrari academy member alongside likely teammate, Ollie Bearman.
The one-time Grand Prix-winner is now in a predicament with most other teams locking in their respective line-ups for 2027, leaving his future in the sport unclear.
Recent rumours have pointed towards Ocon perhaps spending a season in another discipline of racing, using it to potentially limber up for a shot at a seat back in F1 for 2028.
But speaking ahead of this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, Ocon, when asked, if he would consider racing outside of F1, his answer indicated a one-track mind.
“Formula 1,” he said. “That’s where I deserve to be.
“If I look at the results and what I’ve shown in Formula 1, I deserve to be in Formula 1. So of course, there are other categories which are fantastic as well, but I want to be racing in Formula 1 in the next five, seven years.
“That’s where I want to be. So I will keep pushing to be in that position. So yeah, in the near future, that’s the only thing I’m looking at so far.”
Asked if he will race in anything else if no seat in F1 is forthcoming, Ocon’s answer was short, and to the point.
“No.”
Ocon took a deserved points finish in Baku, followed by a strong drive in Malaysia, where his challenge ultimately faded towards the end amid a lack of pace after a tyre stop.
His spike in form may have come at the right time, with any fleeting opportunities potentially keeping themselves on the table.
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