Red Bull driver and F2 champion set for battle over highly-desired F1 seat

The renowned 'silly season' of Formula 1 seat changes is set to be kicked off with a bang, as an old great and a rising rookie are set to fight it out for the first of many newly-opening spots on the grid.

Formula 1 is a brutal sport with only 22 drivers getting the chance to get behind the wheel week after week. If results dwindle, it's the drivers who get the cold shoulder, and those precious seats are snatched up in a heartbeat by aspiring drivers.

Even though we're just a third of the way through the season, a clear gulf in quality has emerged in the 'middle pack', with Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull (or mainly, Max Verstappen's magic), remaining as an impenetrable front four.

As teams begin to fall behind their expected finishes, attention has turned to the drivers, and a string of seat changes could be upon us as the regulations continue to force adaptation.

Already, Max Verstappen has sent shockwaves through the paddock by opening talks with McLaren.

According to reports, one of the other seats that could become available is that of Esteban Ocon's at Haas.

The 29-year-old Frenchman has bounced from team to team in an 11-season stint in Formula 1, starting at Manor Racing before moving to Renault, Force India, Racing Point, Mercedes, Alpine, and Haas.

Bit having just three points to his name in the 2026 season so far, falling behind teammate Oliver Bearman, Hass could be looking to replace Ocon, and two names have been rumoured to be in contention.

Yuki Tsunoda and Leonardo Fornaroli rumoured for Haas contention

With Bearman opening a sizeable lead over Ocon, FOX Sports claims that the Frenchman is one of the most likely drivers to face the chop this season.

The reports recently ramped up as Haas borrowed McLaren reserve driver and reigning Formula 2 champion Leonardo Fornaroli for a run-out in testing.

The young Italian comes with the coveted reputation of being only the fifth driver in history to win both the F3 and F2 championships in consecutive years, following Gabriel Bortoleto, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, and Charles Leclerc.

Fornaroli outperformed current Racing Bulls man Arvid Lindblad in both seasons and currently serves as the back-up driver for Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

"I don’t know if we need a new [a new driver], because our focus is on our two drivers,” Haas boss Ayao Komatsu told The Race, before saying that the Haas test was a positive sign for the rising star.

"Leo is reigning F2 champion, he’s a credible driver, and he’s been on a really good training programme with McLaren, so it’s really good for us to have a chance to look at him.

"Clearly, what McLaren is doing with Leo is a very good programme."

Alternatively, Yuki Tsunoda is an option, despite the complication of his Honda links and the Toyota sponsorship of the Japanese driver.

Tsunoda currently serves as a reserve for Red Bull after a disappointing season as their number two driver, having taken over from Liam Lawson but not converting his promotion from Racing Bulls.

That is, if the popular driver is still considering a Formula 1 career, as recent reports suggest that he could be trading sports, with the possibility of competing in IndyCar becoming increasingly tempting.

Ocon's seat opening, whether it be mid-way through the season or in anticipation for 2027, would kick off the renowned 'silly season', and attention could also be turned towards Isack Hadjar (Red Bull), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), and both Cadillac drivers in Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.