The news about Esteban Ocon leaving Alpine after the 2024 F1 season follows a controversy sparked by a collision with his teammate, Pierre Gasly, at the Monaco Grand Prix, leaving team management disappointed. While the decision wasn’t solely based on the Monaco incident, it did influence the ending that it would be best not to continue into 2025.
Ocon expressed his feelings about the decision, saying, “It’s been a significant period of my life racing at this team in Formula 1. While I’ve been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me. We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times. I will announce my plans very soon, but in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.”
Ocon will continue to drive for the team for the rest of this season, including the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix. Last week, he spoke out against the online abuse he received for his part in the collision with Gasly in Monaco, which caused him to retire from the race.
Team principal Bruno Famin, who mentioned ‘consequences’ for the Monaco collision, believes that both driver and team will continue to give their best for the remainder of the campaign. Famin thanked Esteban for his commitment over the past five years and highlighted memorable moments, such as the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix victory.
Alpine is expected to continue with Gasly in 2025, whose contract is up for renewal at the end of this year. Possible candidates to partner him include reserve driver Jack Doohan, WEC driver Mick Schumacher, and Sauber’s Guanyu Zhou.
Ocon’s future in F1 is uncertain, but he’s been linked with options on the grid. Haas is interested in him as a potential experienced teammate for rookie Oliver Bearman. He’s considered the preferred option for the Sauber/Audi team if Carlos Sainz decides not to join them.
Ocon has been driving for the Alpine team since 2020, previously competing under the Renault banner. He secured a victory for the French manufacturer at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, his first win in F1, and has since achieved two more podium finishes. However, this season hasn’t brought the success he and the team had hoped for.
