Goodbye Alpine
Esteban Ocon will leave Alpine at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 championship in order to join Haas after five seasons with the French team. The peak of his victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix was overshadowed by many disappointments over the years, with perhaps the biggest being the current Formula 1 season, in which Alpine has only scored 13 points.
“Before the season, we weren’t optimistic, but we already understood in the simulator that it would be a difficult start, and reality confirmed it,” Esteban Ocon admitted in a recent interview for German magazine Auto, Motor und Sport. He continued: “It hasn’t been fun for anyone. When I signed in 2020, I had high expectations, and there had been big promises. It’s not easy to invest so much and then find yourself in the back of the grid.” – the French driver pointed out.
A predetermined fate
Esteban Ocon denied that the tensions following the incident at the start with teammate Pierre Gasly in the Monaco Grand Prix influenced his departure: “In reality, it was clear to me even before that; I had already spoken with other teams during 2023. Of course, one remains open to everything, but I was looking for a new challenge.” – he explained.
The 28-year-old Frenchman commented on his choice of Haas: “They presented me with a clear plan, and the presence of Ayao Komatsu convinced me. I can’t wait to join the team, and I hope to be able to fight with Mercedes soon,” he suggested, referencing his past as a driver in the Silver Arrows Academy.
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