Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.
With Esteban Ocon reportedly facing the prospect of being benched for the Canadian Grand Prix, Alpine team boss Bruno Famin is being encouraged to take this course of action by former Formula 1 driver Christian Danner.
Famin was left enraged after Ocon collided with Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix, the pair having first engaged in battle through Massenet as Ocon narrowly avoided the barriers, while a lunge down the inside at Portier did result in contact which lifted Ocon’s Alpine off the track and eliminated him from the race.
Canadian GP axe ‘only language’ Esteban Ocon will understand
Alpine principal Famin remains unsatisfied with Ocon’s public apology following the incident. Reports suggest that Famin is seriously considering sidelining Ocon for the upcoming Canadian GP as he had previously warned of potential consequences.
Danner, speaking with Motorsport-Magazin.com, rather bluntly called it “typical Ocon” and while he put forward a “very harsh financial penalty” as an option, he urged Famin to make the 27-year-old sit out the next race.
Danner, a 36-time F1 race starter, expressed his analysis of the collision between Ocon and Gasly by stating, “It was clearly a foolish and overly aggressive move, and I regretfully have to say it’s a typical Ocon move.”
“That approach is ineffective and absurd. It doesn’t provide any assistance whatsoever, and on this occasion, they were actually somewhat competitive, giving both of them a chance to score points. Endangering such an opportunity is highly counterproductive and detrimental to the team’s progress.”
Considering that perspective, it was not unexpected for Bruno Famin to be extremely furious.
In my role as the boss, I must assert: “Dear friend, you will not be participating in the race. Jack Doohan, the Alpine reserve, will be taking the wheel. That’s final.” This decision will serve as a lesson for Ocon.
“If he approaches it in a different manner, merely scolding, the words will simply pass through one ear and out the other.”
“So, in my opinion, Famin will need to carefully contemplate his options for a couple of nights in order to find some solace in this matter for the rest of the year, considering the vast number of races that still lie ahead of us.”
“And the only message that gets through to him [Ocon] is: ‘you won’t be participating in a race’.”
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Gasly managed to secure a point for Alpine in P10, which marked their second point of the season. However, he expressed his disappointment regarding the incident and emphasized the need to ensure it does not occur again.
After the Monaco race, he expressed his disappointment to the media, including PlanetF1.com. He mentioned that they had received clear instructions before the race regarding their strategy and the expectation for the trailing car to assist the one in front. However, to his dismay, this plan did not materialize.
We absolutely need to have a conversation about this because we cannot afford, especially in a critical season like this, to lose any points. Each point could be crucial by the end of the year, so we must ensure that it doesn’t occur again.
Ocon and Gasly’s contracts at Alpine expire at the conclusion of the F1 2024 season.
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