As was predicted by the France’s L’Equipe, Alpine introduced this week that after a five-year collaboration with Esteban Ocon, it will be parting methods with the French driver on the finish of the season. A relationship that dates again to the outfit’s Renault-branded days, the 27-year outdated will announce his subsequent transfer ‘very quickly’, in keeping with a social media post on X.
It follows group boss Bruno Famin’s fury on the first lap crash with Esteban Ocon and teammate Pierre Gasly, greater than a week in the past in Monaco. The avoidable crash simply earlier than the tunnel in the principality triggered hypothesis that Esteban Ocon could even be sidelined this weekend in Montreal, Canada.
ESTEBAN OCON TO LEAVE ALPINE
But Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Joel Lischka stated it was already being rumoured previous to the Monaco incident that Alpine didn’t wish to proceed with Esteban Ocon. However, Alpine stated the cut up was ‘agreed collectively’ with Ocon. The 2021 Hungarian GP winner is now linked with a transfer to Haas for 2025 to switch Audi-bound Nico Hulkenberg.
“It would be a good fit, as Esteban Ocon is close friends with Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu. Both have known and respected each other since the days when Ocon was still a test driver at Renault.” stated Bild journalist Enrico Ahlig.
JACK DOONAN’S CHANCE
Ocon declared late on Monday: “I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.” Current Alpine reserve and would-be F1 rookie Jack Doohan, the son of bike legend Mick Doohan, is taken into account the frontrunner to switch Ocon.
L’Equipe believes, “Logic dictates that Alpine will do everything to keep Pierre Gasly as leader, with the hope of offering him a high-performance car for 2026. But the market remains very vague around Red Bull, Mercedes, Sauber, Williams, Racing Bulls and Haas.”
As for 21-year-old Australian Doohan, L’Equipe says, “He is a protege of Flavio Briatore, who is joining as an advisor to the team. Mick Schumacher would be another option, but he’s a Mercedes driver managed by Toto Wolff, just like Esteban Ocon.” Valtteri Bottas, Zhou Guanyu, Theo Pourchaire and Yuki Tsunoda are additionally potential candidates for a transfer to Alpine for 2025. – with GMM
HAVE YOUR SAY
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