Alpine will part ways with Esteban Ocon by the conclusion of 2024.
Handing his A524 over to Jack Doohan for FP1 in Canada, Esteban Ocon has laughed off suggestions that it is “punishment” for his Monaco transgressions.
According to numerous reports, Ocon made headlines in Monte Carlo for all the wrong reasons when he disregarded instructions to “support” his teammate and collided with Pierre Gasly during the first lap.
Esteban Ocon: It’s not the case at all
Lifted into the air when he touched his team-mate’s wheel, Ocon came down hard, so hard he wasn’t able to take the restart.
The incident led to claims the Frenchman could find himself benched for the Canadian Grand Prix but that was denied by Ocon, who called it “misinformed statements”.
After several days, Alpine eventually revealed that Alpine would not participate in the initial practice session at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Instead, reserve driver Jack Doohan would take his place and fulfill one of the team’s two rookie FP1 opportunities.
Ocon promptly dismissed any speculation that it was a “punishment” for his actions in Monaco.
In response to the inquiry, he addressed the Montreal media, stating, “I have frequently observed this misconception perpetuated by the media, but it is completely untrue.”
“As a team, we are required to provide two FP1 sessions for rookies. I have chosen to give mine to Jack.”
“The track will initially have a green appearance due to the new tarmac, but it is currently quite dirty. Therefore, some cleaning is required to tidy things up.”
“Unfortunately, I also received a five grid place penalty for the race. As a result, my qualifying performance is not as crucial as usual, with more focus on the race setup.”
“We believe that as a team, our car will likely become more competitive later in the year.”
“For us, it’s beneficial to have the opportunity to run Doohan early rather than waiting until we reach Mexico or Abu Dhabi, as we typically do.”
What’s next for Esteban Ocon?
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This weekend’s race marks Ocon’s final Canadian Grand Prix with Alpine having announced after Monaco that this season will be his last with the team.
Just like the Doohan speculation, the timing of that also has no connection to Monaco.
He stated that conversations with the team have been ongoing for several months. Alpine and Renault, being major groups, are not the type of team to make decisions based solely on one race.
“We have had discussions and have reached a mutual agreement to conclude our partnership at the end of the contract term.”
“I have dedicated five years of my life to this team. Throughout our journey, we have experienced both remarkable and challenging moments. In the world of Formula 1, five years is undoubtedly a significant period.”
“Yeah, I’m eagerly anticipating the upcoming challenge and looking forward to successfully concluding our collaboration.”
Regarding what comes next, he stated, “I currently have no announcements to make. As previously mentioned, I will reveal my future plans when the appropriate moment arrives.”
Currently, my main focus lies on the upcoming weekend and the subsequent races. Engaging in racing activities is crucial and brings me excitement, which I consider to be of utmost importance.
Doohan, the ex-Mercedes junior driver, who is currently under the management of Toto Wolff, has been associated with both Haas and Audi. He is considered as the top contender to take over Ocon’s position.
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