There is a possibility that Esteban Ocon might not participate in the race in Canada.
As the “irrational red mist” blinded Esteban Ocon, his actions may have also blinded any “front-running team”, ie. Mercedes, from signing the French driver for 2025.
Ocon was lambasted by Alpine team boss Bruno Famin after the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix when he made an ill-judged lunge on his team-mate Pierre Gasly.
Martin Brundle: You simply can’t keep attacking your team-mate with abandon
On the first lap, Ocon’s A524 was lifted into the air and landed forcefully after lunging up the inside of his compatriot into Portier.
The Sergio Perez/Kevin Magnussen crash was extremely challenging for Alpine, as even the red flag did not provide sufficient time to carry out the required repairs for Ocon, who had retired from the race.
Famin, speaking to Canal+, threatened “consequences” with the team boss spotted later in the day in conversation with Alpine reserve driver Jack Doohan.
The Enstone-based team is giving serious thought to dropping Ocon for the upcoming race in Canada, as per Sky Sports’ Craig Slater.
According to former F1 driver turned pundit Brundle, Canada might not be the biggest concern for Ocon.
More on Esteban Ocon’s potential Monaco GP consequences
Esteban Ocon benching ‘under serious consideration’ by Alpine after Monaco crash – report
Ted Kravitz reveals Alpine boss chat with reserve driver after Esteban Ocon ‘consequences’ threat
“The opening lap provided several good reminders of how fiercely competitive and desperate the battle is in the second half of the grid,” he wrote in his latest Sky Sports column.
“Right before the tunnel, at the Portier corner, Esteban Ocon made a daring move by diving inside his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly. Their cars collided with force, occurring just moments before the red flag was waved.”
Ocon’s substantial damage would result in his elimination from any future proceedings, while Gasly managed to secure tenth place and score a valuable point for the team.
“Ocon is undoubtedly a skilled and quick racing driver. However, his racing history vividly reveals an inexplicable tendency to let emotions cloud his judgement, especially when competing against his own team members.”
Previously, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso have strongly criticized him for his aggressive behavior and collisions within his own team. Now, Gasly has joined in the criticism as well. This will have serious consequences for Esteban, as top-tier teams will not tolerate such a mindset, and it may even deter any team from considering him.
“When driving for an F1 team, a driver not only represents numerous hard-working and professional individuals but also embodies significant investment and sponsorship amounting to millions of pounds. It is simply inappropriate to continuously attack your teammate without restraint.”
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