Esteban Ocon has openly criticized Alpine for their lackluster development over the past few years. The lack of performance was glaringly evident in 2024, with the French racing team experiencing a disastrous start to the season and struggling to recover. Ocon, who recently signed a new contract with Haas, is no longer hesitant to call out his team’s shortcomings.
Esteban Ocon was asked by Sky Sports about his new contract and his collaboration with Alpine ahead of the Belgian GP. The 27-year-old driver has been with the French team for nearly five years, but was not offered a new contract for the 2025 season. Haas came to the rescue, placing the Frenchman alongside rookie Oliver Bearman next year.
Esteban Ocon Discusses His Transfer and Challenges at Alpine
“There were other options,” confirmed Ocon. The driver from Évreux admits that he has wanted to make a transfer for a long time. “From mid-2023, we have spoken with several teams,” he explained. “At Alpine, I did what I had to do; I achieved my first victory. We have had good moments, but also some more difficult ones.”
Struggles from Four Years Ago Still Present
Especially in the current season, the collaboration with Alpine has been far from flawless – the team has had multiple disagreements with Ocon and his teammate, Pierre Gasly. “It’s no secret that it has been frustrating lately, without a good car,” said Ocon.
The Frenchman seems to place the blame on the team. “We have not been listened to properly,” he said emphatically. “This applies to me, but also to Pierre (Gasly), Daniel (Ricciardo), and Fernando (Alonso). We have pointed out issues with the car that have not been addressed, not resolved. As a result, we are still dealing with problems from three or four years ago. That’s something you really can’t afford in Formula 1.”
