Esteban Ocon left Alpine because he did not want to work with Crashgate-accused Flavio Briatore: Reports
Renowned F1 insider Joe Saward reported this week about a key detail regarding Esteban Ocon's premature departure from the Alpine F1 team. According to Saward, the French driver decided to part ways with the French team ahead of the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix because he did not want to work with Flavio Briatore, who is infamous for his involvement with the controversial Crashgate scandal.
Renault boss Luca De Meo recently decided to bring in Briatore as the executive advisor for the Enstone-based team. His appointment raised eyebrows given the latter's direct involvement in the 2008 Crashgate scandal. Briatore was instrumental in asking Nelson Piquet Jr. to crash deliberately in the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix and make his then-teammate Fernando Alonso win the race.
Years down the line, De Meo has decided to bring in Briatore for the same team, which now runs under a different name. As per Saward, Briatore's involvement is one reason why Esteban Ocon agreed to move out of Alpine with one race to go before the season concludes. On his eponymous blog, Saward wrote,
"One of the reasons that Ocon left Alpine was that he was not keen on being in team overseen by the Italian, who will long be remembered in F1 circles for the Singapore scandal in 2008 when he ordered Nelson Piquet Jr. to deliberately crash to create a situation in which Fernando Alonso was able to win the race."
Saward also wrote that it was Briatore who created a situation that compelled Esteban Ocon to leave the French team earlier than expected.
"It was agreed some time ago that Esteban would be released after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to test for Haas, but it seems that Briatore decided to change the arrangements and told Ocon that if he wanted to test for Haas, he would need to stand down for the race in Abu Dhabi – and allow Jack Doohan to take over this seat."
As it stands, Jack Doohan, Alpine's reserve driver will take over the charge of Alpine's other car alongside Pierre Gasly in Abu Dhabi. Doohan will also race full-time next season alongside Gasly.
"Not how I wanted things to end"- Esteban Ocon in farewell message
With his departure from the Alpine F1 team already finalized, Esteban Ocon, wrote a farewell message on X (formerly Twitter). In it, he said he wanted his time at the team to end differently.
Ocon wrote,
"As you know, the plan was always to race one last time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all next week. I was looking forward to both of those things. This is not how I wanted things to end. That said, the world of F1 is small and I am sure I will see many of you again soon."
Esteban Ocon moves to Haas where he will drive next season alongside Ferrari prodigy, Oliver Bearman. Ocon signed a multi-year contract with the American team earlier this season and will replace Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg.