Esteban Ocon has said news on his future “will be announced in due course” after Alpine revealed his fifth season with them will be his last.
Alpine’s announcement came eight days after its team principal Bruno Famin stated there would be “consequences” over Ocon’s collision with Pierre Gasly on the opening lap of the Monaco Grand Prix.The team has not indicated any direct link between the collision and Ocon’s impending exit. The statement issued on Monday claimed driver and team “have agreed together to part ways” and it’s not hard to imagine why the dissatisfaction might have been mutual.
When Ocon joined Alpine they were regular points contenders. Now they are fighting to stay above the bottom of the standings.
Alpine appeared to be heading in the right direction to begin with: Ocon’s victory for them at Hungary in 2021 may have been fortuitous, but solid gains were made in 2022 when they rose to fourth in the constructors’ championship. Otmar Szafnauer, whom Ocon worked with at Force India, took charge of the team at the beginning of the year.
However in 2023 the team failed to build on that progress. McLaren and Aston Martin relegated them to sixth in the championship. More changes occured on the management side: Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi, who lambasted the team after a poor showing early in the year at Baku, was replaced by Bruno Famin. He then showed Szafnauer the door after a just a year and a half in the job, and long-standing sporting director Alan Permane followed.
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The team’s technical division has since lost a series of top names. Chief technical officer Pat Fry left around the same time as Szafnauer to join Williams. After the A524 proved uncompetitive at the season-opener technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer also departed. Another long-serving team member, Rob White, left the team just last week.
The rumours Ocon was looking elsewhere for 2025 preceded the events of Monaco. But that race highlighted why Alpine might prefer a change in its driver line-up.
Ocon has demonstrated speed and commitment. He showcased the latter most impressively in last year’s punishing race at Losail, where he threw up in his car on the way to seventh place. But for all his strengths, Ocon has a reputation for being too uncompromising too often with his team mates.
That reputation was forged at Force India, where Ocon clashed on more than one occasion with team mate Sergio Perez. Both drivers gave as good as they got, and at times it seemed Ocon’s improving speed was becoming a handful for his more experienced team mate. But the pairing was split up when Lance Stroll’s father bought the team and placed him alongside Perez – a decision which provoked much sympathy for Ocon, though he and his replacement get on well.
Whether Ocon has a future in F1 rests on which team principals remain sufficiently convinced of his potential as a driver and convinced of his potential as a team player. It seemed Ocon was sensitive to this perception of him when he issued a statement last Friday – at which point he surely knew of Alpine’s decision – stressing he has “always followed the instructions I have been given and raced to achieve the maximum for and with my team.”
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The key player in this decision is likely to be Mercedes. They have come to Ocon’s aid in the past when he has found himself at a career dead-end: First at the end of 2014, when he won the European Formula 3 title but no longer had backing from his management programme, and again after his ejection from Force India at the end of 2018.
Mercedes could have turned to him on past occasions, when they chose to replace Valtteri Bottas and before that when they needed to replace Nico Rosberg. If Ocon ends his career without having had the opportunity to race for Mercedes he will have to reflect on the hard truth that it was at least partly because they weren’t sufficiently impressed by what they saw of his performances elsewhere.
Of Mercedes’ customers, McLaren is full and so is Aston Martin for the time being, assuming Stroll wishes to continue driving. That leaves only Williams, where Logan Sargeant’s place is known to be under threat.
Five years ago, Ocon was on the outside looking in as he faced a season without a drive before Mercedes guided him to his current team. Earlier this year he described how he wept in a car park at the Melbourne circuit as the 2019 season began without him.
Will he face a repeat at the beginning of next year? That may again be up to Toto Wolff.
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Formula 1
- Downbeat Hamilton says he can’t go much further backwards in Jeddah
- Bearman’s 2024 Jeddah debut performance makes him ‘feel like an absolute idiot’
- Only Aston Martin are further off their 2024 pace than Red Bull: Practice data
- Hamilton cleared over impeding in practice as Albon agrees it was not “dangerous”
- Norris leads McLaren one-two, Verstappen third as Tsunoda crashes
Kribana (@krichelle)
3rd June 2024, 14:24
I think this is actually okay for Mercedes to not put too much pressure on Antonelli. But Mick Schumacher is actually better for the team since he is the reserve driver.
JackL
3rd June 2024, 15:52
Agree. Though Schumacher should go to Williams for a year then Mercedes. Vowles seems like he’d be a better mentor for him to recover with before stepping up.
I think Ocon has had his shot. He’s shown flashes of speed, but not the consistency or team leadership needed to stay. And hes had far too many clashes with teammates. Time for someone else to step in. Same goes for Stroll and Magnussen.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:28
Yes, that makes sense both ways: based on his 2nd season’s performance trajectory I’m sure he’s good enough to be on a backmarker team on merit and vowles is indeed a good team principal in terms of not demoralising the driver, the opposite of steiner.
Ocon is also good enough for f1, just have to see if a seat opens up, I also think he’s not good enough for a top team though.
ECWDanSelby (@ecwdanselby)
4th June 2024, 11:09
Sorry, I just don’t understand how Schumacher deserves another chance. He really didn’t make the impression required.
The Dolphins
3rd June 2024, 14:45
What a surprise! Seriously though, I saw Esteban leaving as soon as Pierre joined. I can only expect a junior driver to join the team given Alphine’s current state or performance and management, not sure who else would want to join the team at this point.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:32
True, they’re not always terrible in performance, but never great and it would be a big career risk for a driver at a semi-decent team.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:34
Or a driver who has nothing to lose, like magnussen\sargeant.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
3rd June 2024, 14:49
I’d like to see Ocon given a chance in one of the bigger teams. Frankly, it’s time that some of the younger ones who have potential, were tried.
I quite like his spirit. That time he upset Verstappen at Brazil was hilarious as he clearly doesn’t give a flying fig for reputations – as opposed to the current let’s bow down to Max/Lewis/Fernando era.
Yes. He need to tone certain aspects down, but there is a decent F1 driver in their somewhere and I’d rather got him than Alonso.
GechiChan (@gechichan)
3rd June 2024, 15:30
… and what spirit is that? Ruining people’s winning chances when your race doesn’t even matter anymore? Max was not only in the fight for the race but also for the championship. That’s disrespectful not only to your peer, but also to hundreds of employees that worked off their butts for that result.
Also, being involved in so many team-mates crashes means it’s just something wrong with you as a team player. And even though F1 is one of the least team sports out there, it still is one and you got to play the game as asked.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:37
Oh, you’re talking about 2021? I thought you were talking about 2018, cause hitting verstappen while being a lap behind was terrible too.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:38
I actually don’t remember other episodes than 2018 with verstappen in brazil and if so verstappen wasn’t fighting for the championship.
MacLeod (@macleod)
4th June 2024, 7:42
@esploratore1 You right Ocon was lapped and wanted to unlap himself and took out the leader and that was 2018 Brasil (is it so long ago already…I am getting old)
But the fuming Max found Ocon and Ocon was just laughing or giving him the smug face to him. That Max didn’t knock him out (only a push) that isn’t what i would do …. (Yes Max isn’t his Father otherwise Ocon would have 2 black eyes)
Alonslow
3rd June 2024, 15:46
Ocon is 27, on his 8th season of F1, he isn’t tuning down anything he’s old enough to have already done it if it was possible, it’s like waiting for Magnussen to start fighting fairly or Stroll getting good, is just not gonna happen.
If he was so fast the top teams would have given him a chance already, Leclerc, Max, Russell, all these guys are younger than Ocon and are there in the top teams, Ocon had his chance in 2019 when he was a Mercedes test driver and Mercedes renewed Bottas instead, I can see Hass taking Ocon may as well form the dream team of Magnussen/Ocon or go to NASCAR he would fit very well.
Greg
3rd June 2024, 19:45
Why would be Haas interested in a Mercedes driver that comes without any big sponsor? They are a Ferrari client if anything they would have a Ferrari driver like Bearman
Nick T.
3rd June 2024, 15:57
Would you also like to see Ocon given a chance over Hamilton? Ocon got squashed by Ricciardo, was neck-and-neck with Perez, wasn’t even a tenth as close with Alonso as the points in 2022 suggested and I’ve lost count of the number of times he’s been willing to lose places himself as long as he can also keep a teammate behind. If you count the number of times he’s also just crashed with teammates, it’s even more ridiculous. So, a 1/10 as a team player (ironically, Gasly might be the only other driver nearly as petulant).
Don’t get me wrong, as far as non-elite F1 drivers go, he’s near the top and should have a seat in F1. But to suggest he should replace one of F1’s greatest drivers of all time just because you feel he “deserves a chance at one of the big teams” is ridiculous. What makes it more ludicrous is that he’s the one most responsible for the fact he’s unlikely to ever get a shot at being a #2 in a big team with the fact he’s relentlessly shown he cannot play the team game. There are ways to not concede to a teammate without doing 80% of the things he’s done.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
4th June 2024, 7:18
No of course he shouldn’t be given a chance over Hamilton.
However, last time I looked there was a spare seat at Mercedes. Let’s say Alonso doesn’t join – who’s the obvious alternative?
Is for instance Sainz, such a a significant step up from Ocon, that he should get the gig – when Ocon, like all the F1 drivers do, will get better as he goes into his late 20’s?
The choices out there are not so great, to discount Ocon.
Incidentally, as someone else pointed out – Ocon one of the few to give Alonso a run for his money in terms of points.
He’s talented. And yes prone to daft reckless moments. So what? Doesn’t discount him been considered for Mercedes.
Greg
3rd June 2024, 19:40
Sorry but I think that any chance for Ocon could be at the back of the grid and with lower pay than now. The fact that he is a Mercedes driver and Mercedes seems not interested in giving him a seat speaks volumes
GechiChan (@gechichan)
3rd June 2024, 15:20
I sure hope not!
Nick T.
3rd June 2024, 16:02
Why would they? Do they still owe him something? They shouldn’t make Kimi wait and if they do for the purposes of starting with a lower pressure team or a second F2 season, then they should immediately sign Sainz to a one-plus-one deal. Fact of the matter is that Kimi is doing better in F2 than Bearman and that, as we’ve seen, every single F1 superstar EVER has shined from their rookie season. They don’t and have never needed multiple F2 seasons.
Moreover, Ocon is highly likely to land a seat with or without help. So, why should they help him get a deal or sign him to their team?
Nick T.
3rd June 2024, 16:27
Speaking of the driver market, I find it very interesting that Williams and Sainz have already hammered out a contract that Carlos and his team have given the thumbs up. It’s a contract which he’ll sign in the event he doesn’t get the drive he wants, which can only mean one of two things:
#1 He’ll sign if he fails to get the RBR/MB seat (which seems a near certainty with Checo on the verge of signing a new contract already and Merc looking like they’re going to give Kimi the seat) because he has no interest in Sauber/Audi
#2 Number 1 + he waits too long and Audi sign someone else before he’s made his decision. If it’s #1, 2025 and maybe even 2026 could be exciting time for Williams. And it’ll also make the Audi project look even more shaky.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:50
I wonder if red bull would be so daft to sign perez if he keeps not even getting into the points, I remember ferrari signed sainz early 2022 after a terrible start of the season by him, but red bull is not ferrari, if the signs point to a season like previous they would probably change their mind.
Nick T.
4th June 2024, 2:29
That’s why many are puzzled as to why they’ll sign him this early in this season when his form seems to be on a downturn and RB and Max could be in desperate need of an actual good number #2. I guess they’re confident they’ll have enough of a margin with future developments. And they really want that sweet Carlos Slim $ and the valuable Mexican market Checo brings.
Edvaldo
3rd June 2024, 17:09
This guy was lucky the previous management signed him for such a long contract.
Mooa42
4th June 2024, 1:21
Maybe that’s why the previous management was let go, they kept the worst of the worst.
Nick T.
4th June 2024, 2:30
That was literally one of the most bizarre contracts I’ve ever seen. They locked themselves into a long term deal when there was zero need to in order to keep him.
Luke S (@joeypropane)
3rd June 2024, 18:42
Thanks for reminding us how much better the livery for the 2021 Alpine was…
Jere (@jerejj)
3rd June 2024, 18:52
Of course, Antonelli becoming Hamilton’s direct successor has become more & more likely over the last week to 1.5 weeks, not that Ocon has even been a strong contender at any point since Hamilton’s departure announcement.
Haas & Team Hinwill are his only viable 2025 options.
Sargeant will get replaced by, either Bottas or Sainz, if anyone, so that team is effectively a non-option for any other driver.
mars
3rd June 2024, 18:59
Actually, Ocan is a good competitive driver. Ocon competed most against Alonso as a teammate (2 seasons 44 races). 2021 ended in favor of Alonso, and Ocon prevailed in 2022.
2021 Alonso 81 ponints Ocon 74
2022 Ocon 92 Alonso 81
Ocan vs Alonso
Race 22 – 20
Grid 20 -24
Overall, Ocon still seems a good option for mid-teams.
Wellbalanced
3rd June 2024, 20:49
I agree – one of the few drivers not to have been dominated by Alonso as a teammate
André
3rd June 2024, 21:40
Alonso hasn’t spent too many years with top tier teammates, though.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:54
Not many drivers do, alonso had hamilton and button and that’s more than can be said for many other top drivers, since teams usually try to avoid having 2 top drivers in the same team.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:55
Oh, let’s not forget raikkonen, he was pretty highly rated until he was paired with alonso, and massa was good enough to challenge hamilton to the title in a similar car.
Alonslow
3rd June 2024, 22:37
If Ocon was still a good option for mid teams Alpine would have kept him.
If anything Ocon would be better on a top team where the top team speed can mask his awful attitude, why would a mid tier team that fights for points every GP pick the one guy that prefers for both cars to DNF than be beaten by his teammate?
Alpine had him because he is French and that’s about it, he was pretty good on the young formulas but got stuck around the same level since his F1 debut, kinda like Stroll a more volatile Stroll.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd June 2024, 23:57
He should be better than stroll, he was pretty close to perez.
Nick T.
4th June 2024, 2:36
Dig a little deeper into that season and Alonso retired from top 8 positions with a mechanical problem more than 8 times that season. Ocon wasn’t even really that close.
As for how he fared against other good teammates, he literally more than tripled Raikkonen’s points and nearly shut him out in quali and basically went 18-0 in races against (only a puncture in Spa allowed Kimi to finish ahead of him). And Kimi was still good enough to be ahead of Seb for most of the 2015 or 2016 season (I can’t remember which one it is off hand) despite Ferrari always giving Seb preferential strategy treatment. Seb did end up easily beating Kimi after that season, but it seemed Kimi had lost a bit of motivation being in such a clear #2 position.
Todfod (@todfod)
4th June 2024, 18:38
Honestly … if you want to do a fair comparison with Alonso. You can’t objectively state that he beat Alonso in 2022. Alonso lost close to 60 points in mechanical failures that season… as compared to Ocon, who had most of his DNFs when he wasn’t even running in the points. He wasn’t absolutely dominated by Alonso though.. which is commendable for a talent regarded as mediocre by most of the paddock.
Let’s face it though… Ocon has been beaten by every teammate he’s been paired against. He lost to Perez, Ricciardo, Alonso and Gasly. No wonder he despises every teammate he’s ever had. The fact is that he’s not a very convincing talent and is the most unlikeable/ least marketable driver on the grid. Add to that his negative influence on team dynamics, and I wonder why any team would even consider hiring him ?
Yes (@come-on-kubica)
4th June 2024, 0:17
Ocon to Mercedes and Perez being retained at red bull. How dull. Hope these decisions blow up in their face and they do something different and interesting.
Mooa42
4th June 2024, 1:28
I think with Mclaren and Ferrari having 2 capable drivers each, RB and Merc will need 2 good drivers to have a hope of being 1 or 2 in the constructors champs.
Tommy C (@tommy-c)
4th June 2024, 1:30
I’ve seen nothing from Ocon that suggests he has a championship in him. A decent midfield driver at best, which is fine. There’s been plenty of those in F1 over the years. Most of those drivers don’t have a race win to their name! When you think about it, he’s in his 8th season in F1. That’s more than most get. It’s weird that he’d be leaving the sport at 27 but I guess that’s just what happens when you get in at such a young age. I see a decent FE or WEC career for Ocon. I think his time in F1 is over for good this time.
MacLeod (@macleod)
4th June 2024, 7:52
Ocon is trying to get into Haas so a small chance (together with Bearman) Williams no chance, Sauber/Audi seems there isn’t any interesse for him, Mercedes has other plans, Ferrari and Red Bull are full. Racing Bulls nope, Alpine is he kicked out, Austin Martin, McLaren full so a very large chance he is out next year…..
So expect him to leave F1 he is a decent driver (above average) but that is it.
Mr Squiggle
4th June 2024, 12:02
I don’t really believe that this is the consequence of the crash in Monaco.
They could easily have waited a few more months before deciding to not renew
My guess is they already have a signed contract for the seat next year and were looking for a pretext to move on Ocon.
My money is on either Jack Doohan stepping up or Carlos returns to Alpine/Renault
CarWars (@maxv)
4th June 2024, 12:09
I hope we can finally say goodbye to Ocon. He can go to the reject bin that is Formula E
jmlabareda
4th June 2024, 12:22
Did Mercedes really come to the rescue in 2019? Or was it Toto Wolff as his personal manager?
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
4th June 2024, 15:57
I would enjoy watching Ocon get destroyed by Albon at Williams, but I reckon he will not find an F1 seat next year.
Todfod (@todfod)
4th June 2024, 20:36
Same. Ocon getting beaten by all the 5 teammates he’s been paired up against would put a massive smile on my face. He would quit F1 out of sheer ego embarrassment.