The incident that occurred during the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix ended Ocon’s race on Sunday. Additionally, the French driver received a five-place grid penalty for the next race in Montreal.
During a press conference in Monaco, Alpine team director Bruno Famin stated that Ocon would face the appropriate repercussions, leading some to believe that the Formula 1 driver would be excluded from the ninth race of the season.
In a statement released on X, Ocon expressed his sadness regarding the abundance of abuse and negativity he received online regarding his character, driving abilities, and career. Despite having competed in 141 races and being without a contract at the end of the season, the 27-year-old driver mentioned that he has raced alongside several race winners, engaging in tough battles and occasionally making contact.
After the race in Monte Carlo, Ocon took to Twitter to take responsibility for the incident, admitting that the space was too tight and apologizing to the team. He expressed his hope for a deserved points result for the team.
While acknowledging his honest mistakes, Ocon emphasized that Formula 1 is a sport where emotions and passions run high. He mentioned that he witnesses and experiences this every weekend on the track and on social media, both the positive and negative aspects.
However, Ocon expressed his disappointment with the uninformed statements and exaggerated distortions he has seen online recently regarding his ability to work as a team. He considered these statements inaccurate, harmful, and detrimental.
Ocon stated that he always followed the instructions and competed with the aim of achieving the best results for his team. He took full responsibility for the accident on Sunday and showed respect for his French colleague driver, Gasly, both as a competitor and as a teammate.
He reassured that he and Gasly always maintained a collaborative and professional relationship within the team, and that will continue to be the case. Ocon expressed his excitement to compete in Montreal, in front of the passionate Canadian fans, and looked forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.
The Alpine team, owned by Renault, has faced a challenging season, only managing to score two points so far and currently sitting in ninth place out of the ten teams. This has led to rumors of a possible sale of the team, with Andretti Global being mentioned as a potential buyer. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)
