Alpine announced Esteban Ocon’s premature departure shortly before the Qatar GP. However, the French team’s request was notably stern, effectively forcing Esteban Ocon into a departure off the track.
According to Motorsport, Alpine reportedly summoned the Frenchman just before the start of the Qatar GP. The meeting was allegedly arranged by Flavio Briatore, recently involved again in managing the French team, to present Ocon with a choice.
It appears Ocon was told that if he didn’t agree to terminate his contract with the team early, he wouldn’t be allowed to participate in testing with his future team, Haas, the Tuesday following the Abu Dhabi GP—a form of blackmail, so to speak.
Was Ocon let go early to test Doohan for a potential Colapinto move?
At Haas, it was believed Ocon would be released to take part in testing with the team. However, Alpine had not truly dismissed him to free him up for his new team.
Alpine’s decision seems to have been a strategic move to leverage the situation for their own needs, using Haas as a pretext to push Ocon out early. Alpine hasn’t denied that part of the agreement between the team and Mercedes, which still has contractual ties with Esteban Ocon, involved the Abu Dhabi test element.
The decision to promote Jack Doohan early comes as rumors circulate in the paddock about Flavio Briatore’s interest in Williams driver Franco Colapinto. The Argentine could be a candidate for a role at Alpine, now that Red Bull’s interest in him appears to be waning. Perhaps the move to field Jack Doohan is intended as a test, much to Esteban Ocon’s chagrin.
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