We know more about the circumstances which led to the premature divorce between Alpine and Esteban Ocon, just before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon unexpectedly learned, a few hours before the Qatar Grand Prix, that he was competing in his last race with Alpine. A hasty decision which ends a five-year collaboration between the French driver and the Enstone team.
It was only Monday morning that the ax officially fell: Esteban Ocon is no longer an Alpine driver. After his retirement at the first corner at Losail, rumors quickly circulated before being officially confirmed.
From the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Jack Doohan, young Australian hopeful, will take his place to conclude the 2024 season. This announcement came as a surprise, especially since Ocon had initially planned to say his goodbyes in due form, notably with a helmet specially designed for the occasion.
A decisive meeting with Flavio Briatore
According to sources close to the team, everything happened in the hours before the start at Losail. Flavio Briatore, executive advisor of Alpine F1, would have summoned Esteban Ocon to give him an ultimatum: give up the end-of-season test with Haas or leave his seat immediately.
This decision comes despite previous statements from Ayao Komatsu, director of Haas, who assured that an agreement had been reached to allow Ocon to participate in these tests. However, Alpine never formalized this arrangement, postponing negotiations until this crucial moment.
A departure without goodbye for the Frenchman
Faced with this dilemma, Esteban Ocon chose not to give up his tests with Haas, thus marking a premature separation with Alpine. This hasty departure contrasts with the more formal farewell he had planned. His exit in Qatar, from the first corner after a collision with Franco Colapinto, marked the end of an adventure which could have ended differently.
Jack Doohan, the future of Alpine?
This reorganization presents an opportunity for Jack Doohan to make his competitive debut before 2025. According to paddock observers, Doohan has already shown promise in recent testing, where he went up against Pierre Gasly to set a benchmark. Flavio Briatore also appears interested in Franco Colapinto, suggesting that Alpine could look to diversify its driver duo in the future.
With Gasly as its announced leader, the team begins a new era, while Ocon now turns to Haas to write the next chapter of his F1 career.
