Oct.10 (GMM) Esteban Ocon insists he doesn’t need to make “headlines” by providing his actual opinion about Alpine’s decline in Components 1.
However the French driver, who’s switching to the small American outfit Haas for 2025 and past, admits that the best way each his profession with Renault’s works group is ending, and the top of the marque’s F1 engine program, is “unhappy”.
The 28-year-old’s sole grand prix win got here on the wheel of an Alpine in 2021 – however since then, his relationship with the group and the group’s efficiency have been on a gentle decline.
“There are numerous causes for the downturn,” Ocon instructed Auto Motor und Sport.
When requested to increase, he answered: “I’ve a number of explanations, however I choose to maintain them to myself. I don’t need to make headlines right here.”
Ocon infuriated group administration along with his crash with teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco, however he insists that’s not the one motive for his exit on the finish of the 12 months.
“It was already clear to me earlier than that,” he stated. “We had already had discussions with different groups. This even began through the 2023 season.
“After all, you’re all the time open to something, however for me it was comparatively clear that I used to be on the lookout for a brand new problem.”
Like Carlos Sainz, Audi was reportedly an choice for 2025 for Ocon, however the events didn’t shake palms. “I don’t need to go into element about that,” Ocon insists.
“We talked to a number of groups. Ultimately, what satisfied me essentially the most was that Ayao (Komatsu) is main the group. He’s a seasoned race engineer who is aware of what he’s speaking about.
“Haas at the moment employs 300 folks,” Ocon added, “however they obtain greater than groups with 1500 folks. And there are huge investments sooner or later that may have an effect on efficiency. The group has clear targets and I need to be a part of that.
“I’ve already been to the manufacturing unit and seen the fervour with which everybody works there. I’ve missed that feeling,” he admitted.
Some may surmise that Ocon is ruing his lengthy tenure with Renault and Alpine – particularly as he really beat Max Verstappen to the F3 title again in 2014.
“You have to not hand over hope,” he now says. “Drivers like Jenson (Button) present that there can instantly be an opportunity for those who work arduous and preserve bettering.
“Final 12 months I fought on equal phrases with the McLarens in lots of races, and now they’re combating for the championship. Something can occur,” added Ocon.
Sadly for Ocon, he has struggled to shake off a popularity within the paddock for being egocentric, usually unfriendly, and arduous to work with – particularly in relation to teammates.
“I feel folks have the unsuitable picture of me,” he responds. “After an occasion I as soon as spoke to a younger journalist for 5 minutes, and afterwards he stated to me ‘You recognize, Esteban, I didn’t actually such as you earlier than, however after our dialog I actually such as you’. I discovered that very attention-grabbing.
“Individuals on the market can get a picture of you that doesn’t correspond to actuality in any respect.”
As for his common clashes with teammates, Ocon insists that no group he has ever raced for “has misplaced locations within the championship due to it”.
However this 12 months at Alpine, he overtly admits that coping with the declining state of affairs “hasn’t been enjoyable”.
“After I signed in 2020, I had excessive expectations. There have been additionally huge guarantees. However they didn’t develop into actuality within the 5 years,” he stated. “It’s not straightforward for a driver once you put a lot into it after which instantly end up on the again.”
And when he realised the 2024 automobile could be a backmarker, Ocon says he “made the choice” to look elsewhere “early on”.
“It’s actually unhappy to see the place we at the moment are,” Ocon admitted. “Alpine comes from Normandy, like me. I used to be all the time proud to put on the brand. It’s actually unhappy to see the place we at the moment are. The model deserves extra.
“We give the whole lot, nevertheless it’s not sufficient. 5 years with one group is a very long time in Components 1,” he stated. “We had good and dangerous moments. It was merely time to attempt some place else.”
