Ocon eliminated himself from the Monaco Grand Prix after a collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly on the first lap. While Gasly was able to continue racing, Ocon was deemed responsible for the incident, leading Alpine team boss Bruno Famin to issue a warning about potential consequences.
A few days later, Alpine announced their decision to part ways with Ocon until the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season. Although the driver claims that this decision was not a direct result of his actions in Monaco, it is undeniable that the remainder of the season will be uncomfortable for both parties involved.
During the recent Canadian GP, Ocon and his team found themselves at odds over team orders towards the end of the race. While Ocon was in eighth place, he lost a position to Daniel Ricciardo, with Gasly close behind. The team instructed Ocon to swap cars with Gasly, citing a technical issue with Ocon’s car. However, Ocon disagreed and only relinquished his position on the final lap, which ultimately did not give Gasly enough time to challenge Ricciardo.
After the race, Ocon couldn’t contain his frustration. When asked to explain the situation, he replied, “No, it’s inexplicable, this one. I’ve always followed the instructions given to me as a driver, and I did it once again. I’m the obedient one! I did my part – the team didn’t, honestly. It’s unfair, considering that race. I’m extremely frustrated with how things unfolded. I suppose there are countless reasons, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.”
Continuing to defend his position, Ocon insisted that Gasly would not have been able to catch up to Ricciardo. He stated: “We were two and a half seconds behind Daniel. In just one lap, not even a Red Bull can close that gap. So, no, it doesn’t make sense. Either we are unaware of what we are doing or we are underestimating the distance, or it’s something completely different. It was the wrong decision.”
The challenge for Ocon and Alpine lies in the fact that the 2024 Formula 1 season is only in its ninth out of twenty-four races, which means they still have a significant number of races ahead where they will need to coexist. When asked about this, Ocon replied: “As always, I am simply striving to do my best with the resources available. That won’t change. I have a united team supporting me, including my engineers and mechanics – these people work tirelessly day after day to help me perform. Today, I believe they were proud of the race we were having. However, the result was different. I have faced tougher moments before, so I will continue to give my utmost effort.”
