Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.
According to Sky F1 correspondent Craig Slater, dropping Esteban Ocon for the Canadian Grand Prix is “under serious consideration” for Alpine boss Bruno Famin after the events of Monaco.
Ocon had launched an overtake attempt on Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly into Portier on the opening lap of the race, but the duo would collide, lifting the rear of Ocon’s Alpine off the ground as he suffered race-ending damage.
‘Potential’ for Esteban Ocon to miss Canadian Grand Prix
Team principal Famin was extremely displeased with this outcome. Immediately after, he warned Ocon of potential “consequences” through French broadcaster Canal+, leading to speculation that Ocon might be sidelined for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, where he is set to receive a five-place grid penalty.
Slater has taken steps to verify the authenticity of the threat against Ocon, ensuring it is not merely a rumor sparked by heightened emotions.
Slater began by stating that Bruno Famin, who was present on the pit wall with Canal+, received an immediate call from them after the first-lap crash. Famin expressed his frustration and mentioned the possibility of making a difficult decision, which has been widely interpreted as the decision to sideline Esteban Ocon for the upcoming race in Canada.
The Alpine boss, Bruno Famin, is still seriously considering the matter. He will prioritize the team’s best interests and make a decision accordingly. If he deems it necessary to demonstrate the importance of team discipline by sidelining Esteban Ocon for a week, he is willing to do so. However, no final decision has been made yet.
After the Grand Prix yesterday, Ocon and Famin had personal meetings to discuss the situation. Ocon offered his apologies privately and in person to Famin, as well as publicly through social media. Now, let’s wait and see what unfolds.
More key Monaco Grand Prix talking points
Revealed: The staggering cost of Sergio Perez’s Monaco Grand Prix crash
Monaco GP data: Mercedes ‘survival’ strategy conditioned by Alonso’s traffic denies fight for the win
Gasly managed to secure a point in P10, bringing Alpine’s total to two in a season that has been disappointing for the team. As a result of these challenges, both Gasly and Ocon have been rumored to be leaving the team for F1 2025.
Gasly has been rumored to possibly join Williams, while Ocon has been associated with teams such as Haas and Sauber, with a potential move to Audi in 2026.
Slater believes that the Monaco incident, along with any potential consequences for Ocon, reinforces the speculation about his departure.
Slater further added that he believes it raises doubts about Ocon’s future with the team beyond the upcoming year.
Once again, the previous assumption about their compatibility as teammates, considering their history as childhood rivals, proves to be inaccurate.
Furthermore, according to the majority of observers, Ocon’s attempt to pass was perceived as needlessly optimistic.
The team could have lost valuable points in the Grand Prix, potentially eliminating both drivers from the race. Considering the current circumstances, where teams outside the top five struggle to score points, this incident could have once again placed them at the bottom of the Constructors’ standings.
Gasly managed to secure a point, which maintains their season total at two points. However, this serves as a prime example of the potential high cost of the crash.
“We’ll have to wait and observe. Dropping someone as talented as Esteban Ocon would be a significant and uncommon decision. It’s a rarity to witness such actions.”
“Also, don’t forget that he is not able to participate in the race. This is because he has a five-place grid penalty for Canada. If someone were to take his place, they would also have to serve this penalty.”
However, as of today, there is still a possibility that Bruno Famin may decide to replace Ocon for the upcoming Grand Prix in a few weeks. It remains to be seen if he will make this significant decision.
In F1 2024, Alpine has received one point from both Ocon and Gasly’s contributions.
Read next: Ted Kravitz reveals Alpine boss chat with reserve driver after Esteban Ocon ‘consequences’ threat
