- Haas boss Ayao Komatsu sets mid-summer deadline for 2027 driver calls.
- Growing performance pressure mounts on Esteban Ocon over Haas F1 future.
- Oliver Bearman strengthens his position at Haas with consistent points finishes.
Haas have given the clearest sign yet that their 2027 Formula 1 driver call could come within weeks, and that puts huge pressure on Esteban Ocon as Oliver Bearman continues to looks a shoo-in for as a long-term Haas driver.
Komatsu non-committal
Motorsport.com reported on Wednesday, May 27, that Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu expects the team to make its 2027 driver decision around May, June or July, a timeline that’s critical as both current Haas seats are up for review beyond the end of 2026.
The issue is not around Bearman. Instead, Komatsu avoided giving Ocon any public backing when pressed on whether he would keep both drivers if he had to decide today, while the wider performance picture looks awkward for the Frenchman.
Last week, Ocon rejected rumours about a rift with Haas, but it underlines how difficult his season has been next to Bearman. In last weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix, Bearman took 10th while Ocon finished 14th.
Bearman leading the way
Worth noting is that Haas are no longer filling space at the back of the grid. They have been competitive enough in 2026 for their second seat to matter, and Komatsu’s timing suggests that, traditionally one of Formula 1’s quieter teams, could help set the tone for the 2027 driver market.
The central question is clear: do Haas stick with Ocon’s experience, or decide Bearman needs a teammate who is delivering more consistently under the new regs?
Ocon has scored just one point from the opening five grands prix, while Bearman has opened a clear gap. Even allowing for Ocon’s complaints about car issues in Canada, that is the sort of form line that invites scrutiny when a team boss starts talking about decision-making.
Experience vs no points
The case for patience is that Ocon is an established grand prix competitor – a race-winner in fact – and Haas are still developing the VF-26. Canada was not a clean weekend for them on either side of the garage.
The case against Ocon is harder to ignore now than it was a month ago. While Haas have pushed back on talk of an internal fallout, the pressure is inescapable when Bearman keeps finding the points and Ocon does not.
Upcoming races will shape Ocon’s future
The next stretch of races will shape Haas’ thinking. Monaco and the early European rounds now carry extra pressure for Ocon, because each weekend is another chance either to close the gap to Bearman or to reinforce the idea that Haas should look elsewhere for 2027.
If Ocon responds, all good for Haas. But if the current trend continues into the summer, Komatsu’s May-to-July timeline will start to look less like a plan and more like a countdown.
