End of the Alpine adventure for Esteban Ocon, replaced by Jack Doohan in Abu Dhabi

The more than insistent rumor had swelled in the paddock of Losail (Qatar) this Sunday. The lack of denial from the fugitive Oliver Oakes, the Alpine team principal, declaring that he was not “unaware of anything”, didn't help plug the leaks. No more than the strange thanks delivered a few minutes earlier, on the Canal+ microphone, by the Norman pilot to the attention of his mechanics. As if the season was over and he was sending them a final goodbye.