Florian Niedermair
Formula 1 & Motorsport Department
Italian on paper, Austrian at heart. Most of his time is spent on Formula 1, but he also enjoys taking part in other racing series.MORE
The The Formula 1 field for 2025 is slowly being completed. The two cockpits at Haas are also now said to be filled. This is at least the case according to consistent reports from Racingnews365 and Formula.hu. According to them, Esteban Ocon has already signed a contract with the US team and will start next year alongside Oliver Bearman.
The signing of the contract with Bearman was only made public on Thursday, after the Briton had been linked with a Haas cockpit for some time. Ocon’s departure from Alpine has been a given since the beginning of June. The Frenchman had already been linked with a number of other teams and is said to have prepared his own departure from the Enstone team.
Esteban Ocon to move to Haas: Deal not yet confirmed
In recent weeks, it has already become apparent that Ocon Haas. Before the British weekend, he explained that his Formula 1 future does not depend on Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard is generally considered to be the one that all other drivers are waiting for in the driver market. Ocon’s statement therefore suggested that his move could already be a done deal or at least close to being completed.
Ocon is said to have been in talks with Audi-Sauber, among others, but Sainz is still highly regarded there. It is not known how long the Formula 1 contract of the still-Alpine driver with Haas will last. However, it is said to be a multi-year contract. The team has not yet provided an official confirmation of the deal. According to the reports mentioned, a public announcement was planned during the summer break.
Kevin Magnussen without a cockpit: Is his Formula 1 career over?
The announcement also closes another door for Kevin Magnussen, whose stay in Formula 1 seems increasingly unlikely. Before the last race weekend in Austria, the Dane had already hinted that he was looking for options outside of Formula 1. He has his sights set on endurance racing or the Indycar series in particular. Nico Hülkenberg’s departure for Audi-Sauber has been a given since April.
This would mean that there would only be five vacancies left on the Formula 1 driver market. Pierre Gasly’s teammate at Alpine is still unknown, as is Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate at Sauber. Williams and RB also still have a place to fill. But the most lucrative starting place still open is probably the one at Mercedes.
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