Esteban Ocon Clarifies Alpine F1 Exit: Not a Result of Monaco Clash with Pierre Gasly

Esteban Ocon refutes claims that his departure from Alpine F1 is a repercussion for his collision with fellow team member Pierre Gasly in Monaco, maintaining that the incident did not influence his career in Formula 1.

Esteban Ocon has rejected the idea that his exit from the Alpine F1 squad has any connection to his clash with fellow team member Pierre Gasly during the Monaco race.

During the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix, Ocon collided with Gasly, an incident that infuriated Alpine's team principal Bruno Famin and sparked rumors that the French driver might face suspension for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.

This week, Alpine disclosed that following a period of eight days since their initial assembly, Ocon is set to part ways with the team upon the expiration of his contract at this year's end, concluding his five-year tenure at Enstone.

When questioned about whether Alpine's actions were a form of 'punishment' and if the events in Monaco had swayed their decision, Ocon assured Sky Sports F1, stating, “Not really. Not at all. An organization like Renault doesn’t base its decisions on isolated incidents.”

Ocon emphasized that his departure from Alpine was a mutual agreement reached after extensive discussions over several months.

"He emphasized the significance of their collective decision-making process, which spanned several months, to part ways. He also acknowledged ongoing conversations with Alpine and various other teams."

During my five-year tenure with this team, we experienced significant accomplishments alongside some challenging periods. However, I take pride in our collective achievements and believe it's now time for me to pursue new and thrilling opportunities.

"I believe choosing to conclude our partnership at this moment was absolutely the correct decision."

In response to inquiries about the validity of whispers suggesting Famin hinted at benching him for the Canadian race, Ocon responded, "You might want to check with the team, but as far as I know, I haven't heard anything about it. My preparation for the race in Canada has remained unchanged."

In the FIA press conference in Montreal on Thursday, Gasly chose his words with caution when prompted to share his thoughts on the recent news.

"I'm pausing to reflect before speaking because I'm aware of how closely you all will analyze every word I say," he expressed.

The narrative involving Esteban and me is quite extensive, and it's worth noting that over the past eighteen months, we've successfully collaborated in a professional manner.

"Managing the dynamic hasn't been a walk in the park, given the competitive nature of both drivers. However, reflecting on our journey, I believe we've managed quite well. So, indeed, I would echo those sentiments."

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