Ocon to leave Alpine
New Alpine Driver for 2025
The Monaco Grand Prix had a highly eventful first lap before settling down into a cure for insomnia. One ‘highlight’ of the start was Ocon playing dodgems with his team mate. Again. On a track where the slightest shift can easily lead to a DNF and with the team scrabbling desperately for points this was certainly a brave decision. And it’s led to the announcement of his departure from the team at the end of the year.
What Next for Ocon?
Ocon’s looking for a seat but he has a few problems to grapple with. He’s hardly leaving Alpine on good terms, despite the lovey-dovey language used by both parties. More importantly, there’s strong competition for available seats from other drivers.
Carlos Sainz is a very good driver unlucky to be tossed overboard by Ferrari. He’s quick, he gets along with team mates who aren’t Max Verstappen, and he’s been very close to Leclerc. In short, he has more pros and none of the cons of Ocon, and any team would prefer the Spaniard to the Frenchman.
There’s also a talented crop of new drivers coming through. Olly Bearman was a star substitute for Sainz and looked every inch the F1 driver. He’s young, and Haas could be a good fit for the talented whippersnapper. In 2023, Liam Lawson proved at AlphaTauri that he had the skill to compete.
The same team might well favour him as a replacement for a potentially outgoing Tsunoda. And Kimi Antonelli is seen by many as the next big thing and Mercedes will be keen to keep him, whether that means a perhaps early introduction to the main team or serving an apprenticeship with Williams first.
Ocon does bring genuine speed. He’s not a pay driver or there because his dad’s a billionaire. But he also brings an attitude problem and a degree of selfishness that’s excessive even by the standards of F1.
This costs both points and cash, which can be especially irksome for those near the bottom of the grid. But even for teams with cash to splash, losing money in a budget cap era is something nobody wants.
Haas or Williams seem the likeliest options, if the rumous of Sainz to Audi are true. Williams could do with two good drivers. If Sainz heads off to Sauber/Audi this might work out. But if Sainz decides he’d prefer Williams, which is not impossible, would Audi want Ocon with Hulkenberg? It’d be a strong pairing in terms of pace, but would Audi want almost certain internal turmoil?
For Williams and Haas, the extra points might be worth it. For Audi? Maybe not. That’s not to say they won’t go for him, but it’d be a risk, especially if they can get Sainz instead.
Could he find himself without a seat in 2025? It’s possible, but unlikely. Ocon is a fast driver, and that’s the key consideration most of the time. But there are a lot of talented drivers old and new with deals to make for next season.
Ocon’s Replacement
This also means 2025 will see a new driver at Alpine. Tsunoda going there is eminently possible, as he’s driving really well yet seems barely on the Red Bull radar when discussions of a new driver arise. He was team mates with Gasly in 2022 it’s fair to say they get along rather better than Gasly and Ocon. It’s also good for Alpine as they gain a driver they know can be amicable and who has a decent turn of pace.
Bottas might also be interested. A race winner with bags of experience, he could be useful for a team desperately in need of harmony and consistency. There’s also a chance that reserve driver Jack Doohan could be promoted (although I’d be inclined to opt for a proven driver given how things stand at Alpine).
Justified Decision or Overly Harsh?
This might well have been coming down the track anyway and all Monaco altered was the timing of the announcement. Gasly and Ocon do not get along and Alpine is in some turmoil, having dropped from a No Man’s Land between the top teams and backmarkers in 2023 to be one of the slowest teams on the grid this year.
Restoring harmony by removing a man who has repeatedly clashed with team mates (literally) may have been on the cards. But announcing it now makes it appear like a punishment, without giving Ocon time to try and find a new seat.
Ocon’s had problems with team mates in the past, including Alonso and Perez. At one particularly notable race (Azerbaijan 2017) the hope of a podium for Force India was annihilated when Ocon and Perez collided, leaving the Frenchman 6th and putting Perez out of the race entirely.
Ocon’s a fast driver, but his approach not only makes a working environment worse, it also costs points. And with the midfield/backmarkers ultra-competitive this is no small thing.
Richard
