Esteban Ocon has opened up about his decision to leave Alpine, revealing his reasons for joining Haas.
- The driver has been eyeing a new challenge for quite some time, citing technical challenges at Alpine.
- He noted that Alpine’s struggles with technical issues have persisted for three years.
- Ocon expressed a desire for personal growth and crafting his own path in Formula 1.
- Though leaving, Ocon holds fond memories and wishes his former team success.
Esteban Ocon, who is shifting gears from Alpine to Haas for the 2025 F1 season, has shed some light on his decision to make the change. Ocon’s switch wasn’t a sudden move but rather a well-thought-out plan that began mid-season last year. He mentioned that the technical weaknesses at Alpine, which have plagued the team for three years, were a key factor in his decision. Despite these challenges, Ocon has fond memories and achievements with Alpine, including clinching his first podium in Sakhir 2020 and his first career victory in Hungary 2021.
In his conversation with the media, Ocon stated, ‘The decision for me was quite clear. [I decided] quite a long time ago that I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to write my story – my own story – and obviously five years in Formula 1 with the same team is a long time in Formula 1 terms.’ These sentiments reflect his readiness to tackle new opportunities and embrace growth beyond the confines of his current team.
Ocon further expressed frustration with the lack of progress in developing solutions for technical issues that have lingered for multiple seasons. He emphasized that these persisting problems hampered the team’s performance in the current F1 2024 season, where Alpine has managed only nine points across 13 races. ‘We haven’t been on top of that, and we are facing the issues that we had already three years ago with the current car, which is not possible in terms of the Formula 1 world,’ he added.
Despite the frustrations, Ocon maintains a positive relationship with Alpine, expressing well-wishes for their future. He holds the team close to his heart, crediting them for some pivotal moments in his career. ‘I wish them the best for the future but, before that, we still have half the season to finish and I hope that I can do the best to finish on a high with this team,’ Ocon said, illustrating his commitment to making the most of his remaining time with Alpine.
Esteban Ocon’s move to Haas marks the beginning of a new chapter, motivated by a desire for growth and change while leaving behind cherished memories at Alpine.
