Alpine, who parted ways with Esteban Ocon before the final race of the Formula 1 season in Abu Dhabi, is no longer “not here to be nice” with the French driver, Oliver Oakes, the team boss, told AFP on Friday.
“I do not agree with what I have read about the way we treated Esteban. But anyway, we're not here to be nice, we're here to run. At the end of the day, he will drive for another team and I only care about Alpine. We must move forward”the British leader explained to AFP in the Abu Dhabi paddock.
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“People don't know the whole story so it's easy to comment from behind the screen. Esteban has played a big role in this team, but all chapters must end so that others can begin”he added.
Last Sunday in Qatar, Alpine informed Ocon just before the start of the Grand Prix that he could carry out the end-of-season tests with his future team, Haas, on December 10 in Abu Dhabi, subject to leaving his seat to Australian rookie Jack Doohan, who will succeed him next year, for the last race of the season this weekend in the Emirates.
“We kept our word and he will be able to do the tests with Haas. We act in the interest of the team, we are not there just for Esteban. And for me it's very important that Jack can drive the car now to better prepare for next season.”Oakes estimated.
“It will also be good for Esteban in view of 2025 to be able to build links now with the people he will meet next year. And without being mean, lately his contribution to the team was limited, he scored few points and was often eliminated in Q1 (first part of qualifying). We must not forget that he will be riding for the team with whom we are fighting for sixth place in the constructors' championship so it is just as well that there is not a shadow of a doubt” on his involvement, argued the director of Alpine.
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Arriving in 2020 at the Alpine team, then called Renault, Ocon competed in 106 Grands Prix there and scored four podiums, including a victory, the only one for the team and his career in F1, in Hungary in 2021.
This season, he is in 14th position in the drivers' standings with 23 points, thanks in particular to his unexpected second place in the deluge at the Brazilian GP in early November. His teammate and compatriot Pierre Gasly is 11th with 36 units on the clock.
