Esteban Ocon is a name that usually stays in the ‘gray area.’ Drivers like Max Verstappen, Sergio Perez, and Pierre Gasly aren’t particularly fond of his driving style. Despite diverse opinions on the French driver, he had earned a name for himself. During his initial days for Force India, he had a remarkable run, scoring 18 points.
However, he clashed with Sergio Perez in 2017 when he brushed into the Mexican during a race in Baku. Consequently, that incident exposed a darker side of Ocon to the racing world. Until now, his career has been filled with ups and downs, love and hate. However, Alpine’s recent decision not to renew the Frenchman’s contract could present an opportunity for Mercedes.
Alpine’s Move Could Be A Potential Solution To Mercedes’ “Replacement” Conundrum
The silly season of 2024 is buzzing with uncertainty. The newest addition to the entropy is the news surrounding Alpine. The French outfit has been in the headlines since the Monaco GP. During the first lap of Monte Carlo, Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon had a brutal crash, including Red Bull’s Sergio Perez. All three affected drivers were forced to retire. As a result, the Alpine team scored zero points on the weekend. Moreover, the crash left plenty of questions about the French duo, as they had a feud since boyhood. The collision at Monaco was costly for the team as both cars were severely damaged. Thus, Alpine’s decision was fueled by the recent crash and the burning intra-team rivalry. While the news has surprised a few fans, others feel it was bound to happen. He has been a crucial part of the team since his debut with Alpine (earlier known as Renault).
However, now that Ocon’s Alpine exit is confirmed, the Frenchman has said he will announce his plans ‘soon.’ On the flipside, his remarks during Emilia Romagna GP have re-emerged. During a media interaction, Ocon expressed his thoughts about Mercedes. Further, he still feels part of ‘The Mercedes Junior Team.’ Notably, Ocon was with the Mercedes Jr team in 2015, where Toto Wolff was the manager. Later, in 2020, he was the reserved driver for the Silver Arrows. Further, talking about his Alpine exit, the Frenchman shed light on the uncertainty of F1 while claiming a solid performance in the season. As Lewis Hamilton will soon pack his bag for Ferrari, Esteban Ocon could be his potential replacement. Moreover, the German team is considering a one-year stop-gap solution, and Ocon might be a suitable candidate for their needs.
Esteban Ocon And Pierre Gasly Failed To Follow Team Orders
Last year, the French duo paired up at Alpine, and F1 aficionados were intrigued to see how things unfolded. However, the duo crashed at the 2023 Australian GP and had a plethora of ongoing niggles.
During the Monaco GP, the Alpine team recently had a strict order for both drivers. The two were told to maintain their spots throughout the run. However, Ocon decided to make a move and crashed with Gasly, lifting his F1 car in mid-air. Thus, the failure to follow team orders was another reason for Ocon’s shocking departure.
