Esteban Ocon and Alpine, it's over! The French driver will not compete in the final Grand Prix of the season in Abu Dhabi on December 8. Departing for Haas, he should hand over his steering wheel to Australian driver Jack Doohan. The latter was chosen by Flavio Briatore, the special advisor of the Alpine team, to join the French structure next season.
“I don’t regret anything”
The day after the announcement of his premature departure from Alpine, Esteban Ocon delivered his first reaction on his social networks. He's very classy although he must certainly be feeling bad about not being able to finish the season. “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 Brazilhe wrote on his account X (ex-Twitter). It was also an honor to contribute to fourth place in the Manufacturers’ Championship in 2022.” He adds: “I have no regrets, knowing that I gave 100% in every session. Like I always did. »
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With great class, the Norman also does not forget to thank the “Mechanics and engineers from all functions of the circuit, Enstone and Viry-Châtillon who have raced alongside me over the last five seasons. We have shared so much together, and I am proud to call many of you my friends”.
He confirms that this early eviction is not his doing. He would have liked to have been able to participate in the last Grand Prix of the season which he was supposed to compete in Abu Dhabi with a special helmet which he nevertheless presented at the end of his long post on X.
Esteban Ocon will return to the wheel of a Formula 1 on Tuesday December 10, for the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi with his first laps aboard the Haas VF-24.