F1
Esteban Ocon Slams Alpine’s ‘Nonsense’ Team Orders During F1 Canadian Grand Prix
Furious Esteban Ocon criticizes Alpine’s "nonsense" F1 team orders decision
Esteban Ocon expressed his dissatisfaction with Alpine's team orders during the closing stages of the F1 Canadian Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon has expressed his dissatisfaction with Alpine, describing a team orders decision during the F1 Canadian Grand Prix as "nonsense."
The French driver, penalized with a five-place grid drop for colliding with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly in the previous race in Monaco, managed to climb from the back of the grid and was in ninth place during the final laps of Sunday's race in Montreal.
Alpine asked Ocon to allow Gasly, who was right behind him in 10th position, to pass so that Gasly could challenge RB's Daniel Ricciardo for the eighth spot in the closing laps.
At first, Ocon declined but eventually allowed Gasly to pass him at Turn 8 on the second-to-last lap. By then, however, it was too late for his teammate to adequately challenge Ricciardo.
Gasly secured the ninth position, and Ocon added to Alpine's points tally by finishing in 10th place.
Ocon expressed his happiness that the team managed to score with both cars, but mentioned that the finishing order should have been the opposite in that instance, as he told Sky Sports F1.
"I was told to allow Pierre to pass with only two laps remaining in order to catch up to Daniel Ricciardo, who was 2.5 seconds ahead and too quick for us. Therefore, the instruction made no sense."
"I've consistently contributed as a team player and adhered to all the guidelines provided to me. This has always been my approach, and I've never deviated from it throughout my career."
"I completed my responsibilities, but the team did not, which is quite disappointing."
Ocon is set to depart from Alpine once the season concludes, and he was questioned if he believes that this was the reason he was directed to give up his position to Gasly.
“We’ll give them the benefit of the doubt,” he replied.
Team radio conversation:
Josh Peckett: “Esteban, we need to allow Pierre to pass. The gap to Hulkenberg behind is two seconds.”
Esteban Ocon asked, “Why is that?”
JP: "The objective is to go after Ricciardo."
EO exclaimed, "In that case, just forget about it!"
JP: “Alright buddy. That’s the instruction. We have three laps remaining.”
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