Alpine boss launches a scathing attack against Esteban Ocon, questioning his loyalty and berating his contribution to the squad
Alpine boss Oliver Oakes has launched a scathing attack against Esteban Ocon as he questioned the driver's contribution to the team and seemingly even his loyalty as he is moving to Haas for 2025. In an already contentious affair regarding the French squad's handling of the driver's departure, the comments come after the backlash that the team has received since last weekend.
Ocon has been one of the more important drivers in the recent F1 stint of Renault/Alpine. He won a race for the team in 2021, becoming the only driver to do so. He also registered a couple of P2 finishes for the team, with the most recent one coming in Brazil just two races ago.
The driver was the benchmark of the team in early 2024 as well, as he adapted better to what was below-par machinery from Alpine. Since the summer break, however, there's been a shift in the performance levels of the team's two drivers, with the gap becoming more and more exaggerated. At the F1 Las Vegas GP, Esteban Ocon suggested that there was some discrepancy between the two cars.
After the F1 Qatar GP, it was announced that Alpine and Esteban Ocon were terminating their contract with immediate effect. The fact that Ocon was not given a proper farewell despite being the most successful driver for the team has led to a lot of backlash from the fans.
Responding to criticism, Alpine boss Oliver Oakes launched a scathing attack on the driver, saying that Esteban Ocon's contribution to the team was limited. Oakes also went on to claim that since Ocon was moving to Haas, a team that the French outfit is fighting against for P6 in the championship, it was better that he was not a part of the team. Speaking to AFP, Oakes said (via Motorsport.com),
"And without being mean, recently his contribution to the team was limited, he scored few points and was often eliminated in Q1. We must not forget that he will drive for the team with which we are fighting for sixth place in the constructors' championship so it's just as well that there is not a shadow of a doubt."
The comments come as a surprise and perhaps more so given that only two races ago, Esteban Ocon was fighting with Max Verstappen for the win in the F1 Brazilian GP. He finished second in the race and scored 18 valuable points.
"We are not just here for Esteban Ocon" - Alpine boss
Oliver Oakes also pushed back against the criticism levied on Alpine that the team did not treat Esteban Ocon in the right way. Ocon has been a part of the team since 2020. He's seen multiple leadership changes and has been a pivotal part of the squad through all of it.
Unlike other teams, such as Haas or Mercedes, who have prepared a grand farewell for their respective drivers, Alpine did not give Ocon a farewell at his parting from the team. Oakes, however, pushed back on this line of thinking, saying,
"I do not agree with what I have read about the way we treated Esteban. But in any case, we are not here to be nice, we are here to race. At the end of the day, he will drive for another team and I am only concerned about Alpine. We have to move forward. People don't know the whole story so it's easy to comment from behind your screen."
He added,
"Esteban has been a big part of this team, but all the chapters have to end so the others can begin. We kept our word and he will be able to test with Haas. We act in the interest of the team, we are not here just for Esteban. And for me it is very important that Jack can drive the car now to better prepare for next season. It will be good for Esteban also with a view to 2025 to be able to build relationships now with the people he will be working with next year."
It will be interesting to see what, if any, rebuttal Esteban Ocon issues after these remarks.