French F1 driver Esteban Ocon has expressed frustration with his soon-to-be-former team Alpine over their handling of driver feedback, as he looks forward to a new chapter with Haas F1 in 2025. It comes after a tumultuous season marked by incidents such as the Monaco Grand Prix, which highlighted the strained relationship between Ocon and the team

The partnership between Esteban Ocon and Alpine F1 will come to an end at the end of the season, marking the end of a five-year journey. The Frenchman, who joined the team in 2019, was informed earlier this year that there would be no place for him in the Alpine line-up for the 2025 season. With this news, Ocon quickly secured a seat at Haas F1, where he will team up with rookie Oliver Bearman.

Despite his significant contributions to the team, including securing Alpine’s last Grand Prix victory in Hungary in 2021, Ocon will leave without bitterness.

“No, because I have given everything for this team,” he said in an interview with Motorsport.com. However, Ocon was not afraid to express his frustration at what he perceived as a lack of attention to driver feedback within the team.

 

 

 

Unaddressed feedback and ongoing issues

Ocon’s main complaint is that the team has failed to act on the feedback he and other drivers have provided over the years. He revealed that it wasn’t just his own concerns that were overlooked, but also those of former teammates Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso and current team-mate Pierre Gasly.

“All the drivers who have been with the team have given feedback,

“Normally there is a cycle where as a driver you give information to the team. Then there is technical feedback. Either ‘yes, you’re right, we need to address this’ or ‘no, we can’t do this because of this or that’. But there has never been anything like this before,” said Ocon.

The 27-year-old driver explained that this cycle of feedback is crucial in Formula One, where continuous improvement is key to staying competitive. However, Ocon lamented that Alpine did not follow this process.

“The following year you realise that some of the problems you talked about have not been solved, they have gone the other way,” he said, expressing his frustration.

“I try to run this team as well as I can, but we have not always been listened to. For example, we have some problems with the current car that we had three years ago. That is not possible, not in Formula 1,” he noted.

Despite the introduction of new technical personnel, Ocon expressed hope for the team’s future success, but clearly remains unhappy with his experience.

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Alpine boss’ anger: the Monaco incident

The tensions between Ocon and Alpine were further highlighted during the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, an event that left a lasting mark on Ocon’s season. The Frenchman came under intense scrutiny following a collision with his team-mate Pierre Gasly, which drew the ire of Alpine team boss Bruno Famin.

The incident not only led to a public backlash, but also sparked widespread speculation about Ocon’s future with the team.

Ocon faced a difficult few days in the aftermath of the incident, with rumours of possible disciplinary action swirling. However, the situation was eventually resolved internally and the threat of suspension or dismissal was averted. Although Ocon’s decision to leave Alpine for Haas at the end of the season is not directly linked to this controversy, the Monaco crash certainly adds another layer to the complex dynamic between driver and team.

Reflecting on the incident, Ocon acknowledged the intense scrutiny he faced, particularly on social media.

“When there is noise from all sides, it always means that something big has happened. And of course there was too much noise, especially on social media, which Damon Hill also referred to. He said: ‘I’m glad I didn’t race in the age of social media,'” recalls Ocon.

 

 

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Support from Williams team boss amid the backlash from Alpine wrath

Despite the harsh criticism, Ocon received support from within the Formula One community, which he greatly appreciated. Among those who reached out to him was Williams team principal James Vowles, perhaps a somewhat damning situation for Alpine that a rival team boss gives greater support for a competitor than the current team boss.

“Yes, he did,” confirmed Ocon. “Of course it’s good to get support from the right people,” he said, reflecting on the positive impact of such gestures during a difficult time.

Ocon also took to social media to address the situation, a move he felt was necessary given the circumstances.

“In the past, you would have had a conversation with the press and then moved on to the next race. But that’s why I made the statement on social media – and it was important to speak out at the time.”

Despite the furore surrounding the incident, Ocon has now put it behind him.

“There’s not much more to say now,” he insisted. “The things that happened are behind us and we are moving on.”

Taking responsibility for his mistake during the race, he admitted: “I made a mistake coming out of the corner. I didn’t leave enough space on the exit. But the attempt itself wasn’t bad. It was the exit that was too narrow. Yes, I misjudged the distance there.”

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Looking forward to Haas F1

Given his dissatisfaction with Alpine, Ocon’s decision to join Haas F1 in 2025 was not a difficult one. At Haas, Ocon will bring not only his wealth of experience, but also the lessons he has learned over the past five years. With a rookie teammate in Oliver Bearman, Ocon will be expected to take on a leadership role within the team.

“I don’t know if it’s good to be a team leader, but I’m going to get involved, I’m going to try. I will try not to miss any detail and I will pass on everything that I think is important to improve,” said Ocon.

Ocon is clear about what he expects from his new team. He stressed the importance of addressing issues promptly, a lesson he learned from his time at Alpine.

“You don’t have to wait a year for something to happen because things take time to develop, things take time to be created,” he pointed out.

Ocon stressed the urgency of action in F1, where delays in addressing problems can have long-lasting effects.

“I’m going to make sure that when I say something, I get a reaction and an explanation – so we can have a conversation,” said Ocon, outlining his approach to Haas. This proactive stance reflects his determination to avoid the frustrations he experienced at Alpine and to ensure that his feedback is taken seriously.

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A new chapter

As Esteban Ocon prepares to close the chapter on his time at Alpine, his comments highlight the challenges of communication and responsiveness within a Formula One team. While Ocon leaves Alpine with no hard feelings, his candid comments underline the importance of listening to driver input in a sport where every detail counts.

At Haas, Ocon is eager to make a fresh start, bringing his experience and insight to a team he hopes will be more receptive to his feedback.

Next season will show whether this new partnership will deliver the results Ocon is looking for, and whether Haas can benefit from the experience of a driver determined to make his voice heard.

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