Esteban Ocon will miss the first practice session (FP1) at the Canadian Grand Prix, but Alpine has firmly denied that this decision is linked to recent disciplinary issues.
Following a collision with his teammate Pierre Gasly during the first lap in Monaco, rumors swirled that Ocon would face consequences for the incident. Team principal Bruno Famin had hinted at potential repercussions, leading to speculations that Ocon’s absence from FP1 in Canada was a form of punishment.
However, Alpine has clarified that Ocon’s absence from FP1 in Canada is not a disciplinary action. Instead, the team is utilizing the first mandatory young driver practice session, with their reserve driver Jack Doohan taking over Ocon’s car for the session. This will be Doohan’s fifth FP1 appearance with Alpine, and the Australian driver is seen as a promising candidate for a future race seat in F1 2025. Doohan is excited about the opportunity to drive at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for the first time, and he expressed his enthusiasm on social media.
He said, “Really excited to get out on track in Montréal for FP1. It will be my first time driving at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, which I am looking forward to. I am grateful to the team for the opportunity to get more track time, and also familiarise myself with 2024 machinery early in the season. This will also help with the work I am doing in the simulator, particularly at the European rounds. My focus will be on doing the best for the team and maximising the session for both drivers, looking at certain test items and understanding the new track surface.”
Famin echoed this by adding, “In Canada, we have decided to use the first mandatory young driver Free Practice 1, with Jack Doohan in the car in place of Esteban, giving him the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the A524. With Jack’s great work in the simulator in recent races, we can count on his valuable feedback in Montréal.”
The decision has been well-received within the team, though Ocon has had to respond to speculation about his future with Alpine. Amid intense criticism and rumors that he could be benched following the Monaco incident, Ocon took to social media to share his thoughts. He wrote, “A lot has been said in recent days, so I am very much looking forward to driving again and getting back out on track. My focus and energy is fully dedicated to the team and maximising our results on track, starting already this weekend in Canada. The pace we showed in Monaco was positive, particularly in qualifying trim where we had the opportunity to get both cars into Q3. As a team, we have been making steady progress over the course of the season. Despite the circuit characteristics being quite different, hopefully we can carry momentum into Montréal and show similar speed as we did in Monaco. The field is extremely close at the moment, so extracting every bit of performance counts.”
Alpine is currently sitting in ninth place in the Constructors’ standings, with only two points scored so far this season. The upcoming Canadian Grand Prix will be crucial for the team as they aim to improve their standing and gather more points.
As the Canadian Grand Prix approaches, all eyes will be on how Alpine and their drivers tackle the challenges ahead. With Ocon sitting out the first practice session and Doohan stepping in, the focus will be on maximizing performance and continuing to build on their progress this season.
Source: Planetf1
