Lewis Hamilton offers personal support to Esteban Ocon

Personal support in Austin

Hamilton’s decision to speak with Ocon in person provides direct support for the Frenchman following his Haas exit. Lewis Hamilton spoke with Esteban Ocon at the Circuit of the Americas to discuss the upcoming conclusion to Ocon’s time with the team. Ocon confirmed the conversation to media in Mexico City, noting that Hamilton made a personal effort to commiserate after the news of his Haas departure. This contact came after Ocon told reporters that he received little support from other grid rivals through text messages or private messages. Hamilton told media that he chose to see Ocon in person instead of sending a text because he thought a personal conversation would be better than a message since he knew about the situation regarding the lack of texts from other drivers. Lance Stroll also spoke to the 30-year-old driver, but Ocon said he did not receive messages from anyone else in the paddock. Hamilton described Ocon as "one of the nicest guys here" and a "charming young lad" who remains positive. Hamilton added that Ocon is a "very, very talented driver" and expressed sadness regarding his departure from the grid. They worked together in 2019 when Ocon was a Mercedes reserve driver. Ocon explained that he is not calling for support from any drivers, as he believes everyone in the sport lives in the same difficult world. He noted that if a driver performs for three good races, they are the best, but if they fail for three races, they are the worst.

Haas replaces veteran with rookie

Haas will replace Ocon with Rafael Camara for the 2027 season. Gene Haas and team principal Ayao Komatsu decided to select Camara, an F3 champion and current Formula 2 leader, following his performance at the Portimao circuit in Portugal where it is claimed his speed was impressive. Ocon will leave the team at the end of this season after a two-season spell with the American outfit. He wants to secure a reserve driver role to ensure he stays in the paddock and hopes for a return to a full-time seat in 2028. In five races’ time, Ocon will watch the action from the sidelines.

Ocon will sit out the first practice session at the Mexico City Grand Prix to allow rookie Ryo Hirakawa to participate. Ocon noted that missing the session at this track is not a major issue because the track is not the hardest on the power unit. He stated that the track has a lot of braking and low drag, which makes it difficult to manage speed thresholds at high speed. He also mentioned that the track can be very dirty during practice sessions.

Performance and future prospects

Ocon stated he has no regrets regarding his time in Formula 1 and believes he maximised the performance of his Haas car. He mentioned that 2022 and 2023 were very good years for him. While he admitted he did not maximise the car every single race, he felt he did so quite a few times. He believes he has more to give to the sport and refuses to race in any other category if he fails to find an F1 seat for 2027. He believes his performance was better in some seasons than others. Ocon discussed the volatility of the sport, noting that a driver can be considered the best after three good races or the worst after three poor ones. This difficulty defines the professional lives of all drivers on the grid. Hamilton also commented on Ocon’s resilience, stating that if Ocon continues to carry himself in a positive way, he can succeed in whatever he does next. Hamilton noted that when one door closes, new opportunities open for something new and better.