The story is over. Between Alpine and Esteban Ocon, the separation is now official. Landed by the French team, the Norman will not participate in the last Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi. Replaced by Jack Doohan, the reserve driver, he will participate in the tests planned for next week with a brand new team: Haas. It is in these colors that he will ride next season.
But before opening this new chapter, the French pilot wanted to close the previous one in a long message published on Instagram. “I would like to thank the mechanics and engineers from all functions on the track, at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon, who have raced alongside me over the past five seasons,” he wrote. We have shared so much together, and I am proud to call many of you my friends. »
Esteban Ocon was particularly pleased with the results obtained with the French team. “I leave Alpine/Renault with wonderful memories and the pride of having been the driver who allowed the team to obtain its best results since its return to F1, by reaching the first two steps of the podium in Bahrain, in Hungary and Brazil, he continued. It was also an honor to contribute to 4th place in the Manufacturers' Championship in 2022. I know how much those moments meant to everyone, and it's that feeling of accomplishment and joy, shared with the team , which I will remember. »
The Norman then regretted this bitter end and the impossibility of saying goodbye to his teams. “As you know, the plan was to race one last time this weekend and say goodbye next week. I was looking forward to doing these two things, he assured. This is not how I wanted things to end. That said, the F1 world is small and I'm sure I'll bump into many of you soon. »
