The 2024 Formula 1 season is nearing its end, but for 28-year-old Esteban Ocon, it’s already over. The French driver, dropped by the Alpine F1 Team before the final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, didn’t hold back as he left Qatar last week.
Between heartfelt goodbyes to his engineers and mechanics and subtle criticism directed at his former management, his departure leaves a bitter taste, while the team prepares to welcome Jack Doohan.
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A sudden split after Qatar GP that raises questions
After five years with Alpine, Esteban Ocon’s 2024 season came to an abrupt end at the Qatar Grand Prix following a first-corner collision with a Haas. This defining incident accelerated a decision that seemed inevitable: Alpine F1 Team ended their partnership with Ocon before Abu Dhabi, choosing instead to give rookie Jack Doohan, the young Australian, an opportunity. The team’s official communication shocked many with its lack of empathy, simply acknowledging Ocon’s 2021 Hungarian GP win—their first under the Alpine banner. No nostalgic montage, no videos, no heartfelt statements. A cold exit reflective of the internal tensions that have plagued the team for months.
Esteban Ocon’s poignant farewell
Despite leaving under such conditions, Esteban Ocon took a different approach in his farewell. On Instagram, he thanked the teams at Enstone and Viry-Châtillon, Alpine’s two factories, for their support, recalling highlights like his podium finishes in Bahrain and, more recently, Brazil, along with their fourth-place finish in the F1 Constructors’ Championship in 2022. However, his touching message didn’t mask his frustration. Referring to the second half of the 2024 season as “challenging for various reasons,” he subtly criticized the team, expressing regret at not being able to bid farewell to the factory staff in person. This comment underscores the tensions of the year, particularly following his crash with Pierre Gasly in Monaco.
I would like to first and foremost thank the mechanics and engineers across all functions at the track, Enstone, and Viry-Châtillon who have raced alongside me these last five seasons. We have shared so much together, and I am proud to call many of you my friends.
I leave… pic.twitter.com/QL7ZTPLQin
— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) December 3, 2024
A new Formula 1 chapter for Ocon
With his move to Haas F1 Team in 2025, Esteban Ocon turns the page on a turbulent chapter but leaves behind a parting gift for Alpine: a double podium finish in Brazil, a historic moment for the team. Meanwhile, Jack Doohan now has the chance to prove his worth in Abu Dhabi. Unfortunately, immense pressure already rests on his shoulders, as he’ll need to defend the team’s 6th place in the Constructors’ Championship against Haas F1 Team and Racing Bulls. Failure to do so could see Flavio Briatore cancel his contract for next season. In the aftermath of the announcement, social media erupted, with many fans—especially French ones—expressing disappointment. For the first time in a long while, they had seen a French driver win for a French team, and now that connection is severed. Let’s hope for Esteban that the Haas project brings him the stability he has so often lacked in recent years.
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This article explores the dramatic end of Esteban Ocon’s collaboration with Alpine, his bittersweet farewell, and the challenges awaiting Jack Doohan in Abu Dhabi. F1 remains a theater of intense emotions, and this sudden departure is yet another striking example.
Image: esteban-ocon.com
