Esteban Ocon comes out of silence. A few days after the controversial collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, the affair took on probably exaggerated proportions, in the wake of particularly scathing remarks from Alpine boss Bruno Famin. If we do not yet know precisely how the director of Enstone resolved the matter internally, the French driver’s speech goes in the direction of an intelligent and private solution, and makes it clear that he will be very and present in Canada next week.
Taking responsibility once again for his mistake at the Portier corner, which caused his own retirement as well as a five-place penalty on the next starting grid, Esteban Ocon nevertheless deplores the denigration campaign to which he was subjected, particularly on social networks, but also misinformation.
“A lot of things were said after the Monaco Grand Prix”he notes. “While I have received many messages of support, I have been deeply saddened by the amount of insults and negativity I have received online about my character, my riding and my career. Thanks to hard work, support and sacrifices from many people, I have competed in over 140 Grands Prix since I started in 2016. I have always been a tough competitor and, like most drivers, I have experienced my share of accidents.”
“I was fortunate to race alongside talented and experienced teammates, including Grand Prix winners like Daniel [Ricciardo]Checo [Pérez] and Peter [Gasly]as well as a double world champion like Fernando [Alonso]. As teammates, we often started races very close together, which in some cases led to tough battles on the track, and sometimes contact.”
The distorted statements and gross misinformation I have seen online in recent days about my ability to work with a team are inaccurate, hurtful and damaging.
Esteban Ocon looks to the Canadian GP.
Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images
“Of course, I made unintentional mistakes. We are not robots, we are athletes who push their limits every day to realize their dream of winning races. F1 is a sport where emotions are strong and the deep passion. I see and feel it every weekend on the race track and on social media… in good and bad ways. But the distorted statements and gross misinformation I’ve seen online these. recent days regarding my ability to work with a team are inaccurate, hurtful and damaging.”
“Since my first laps in motorsport, I have approached this sport with humility, professionalism and respect. These values were instilled in me from a very young age. Every driver is in search of individual glory, but it will always be a team sport above all I always followed the instructions given to me, and I raced to achieve the maximum for and with my team I took responsibility for the accident in the first round. last Sunday and, despite my withdrawal, I am happy that the team added a point to the scoreboard in what was a difficult start to the season for all of us. I respect Pierre as a teammate and competitor. We have always worked collaboratively. and professional in the team, and that will continue to be the case.
“There is no reward without taking risks in Formula 1, and the starts are intense, even more so in Monaco, where the first lap can dictate the final result. In the end, we are all competitors and the races are fierce and loyalty are what make our sport great and the main reason I love it so much. I can’t wait to race in Montreal, in front of the fantastic Canadian crowd, and seize the exciting opportunities that the future holds. .”
The driver’s comments, in words obviously chosen with great care, were also shared by his team, which has not communicated publicly on the subject since the end of the Monaco Grand Prix.
