Alpine seems to be more concerned about the incident involving Esteban Ocon in the Monaco GP than their disappointing performance this season. The team has faced difficulties throughout the year, starting with an overweight car that left them far behind the competition. Now, they are facing even bigger problems as they publicly announce that there will be consequences for Ocon’s actions on lap 1 of the race. Ocon was overtaken by his teammate and tried to make a move, resulting in contact and his retirement from the Grand Prix. Team boss Bruno Famin made it clear that Ocon will face repercussions for this incident.
Rumors suggest that Alpine is considering replacing Ocon as early as next season, which could be a major setback for the 27-year-old driver as he currently does not have a confirmed seat for the 2025 season. However, at the moment, Alpine is not in a position to dismiss Ocon in the middle of the season.
Ocon and Pierre Gasly, both highly competitive drivers, used to be friends during their karting days. However, their relationship took a dramatic turn, with their families even ceasing to speak to each other. Alpine’s decision to pair Gasly and Ocon was always a risky move, as the two drivers had collided previously during the 2023 Australian GP. Despite this, they managed to maintain a relatively clean rivalry until the recent incident.
Currently, Alpine is the slowest team on the grid, despite the support of Renault and a significant investment from the group led by Ryan Reynolds. The team based in Enstone has failed to meet expectations and is in a crucial period of work on their car to improve performance and get back to the middle of the pack. Therefore, it is not the right time for Famin to shift the team’s focus to bring in a new driver with no prior experience with the A524.
Publicly reprimanding a driver is unusual outside the Red Bull family, highlighting the tense atmosphere within the French team. However, firing a driver who has been with the team since 2020 after an incident would only attract negative attention to the team. Ocon’s immediate apology after the incident suggests he is willing to avoid such errors in the future. There are also rumors that Ocon may join a rival team next season, while Gasly is expected to receive a contract extension from Alpine. In light of this, it would be wise for Famin to talk to his drivers to maintain harmony and consider transitioning to a new lineup next season.
Undoubtedly, Alpine seems tired of Ocon’s aggressive approach. However, instead of rushing to replace him, the French team would be better off focusing on improving their car. Bruno Famin has not yet disclosed the specific consequences Ocon will face in the coming weeks.
