Esteban Ocon has revealed that he’ll soon be sharing his plans for the 2025 F1 season, following the news of his departure from Alpine at the end of 2024.
On Monday, Alpine confirmed that Ocon’s contract will expire at the end of the 2024 season, ending his five-year stint with the team. Ocon’s journey with Alpine has been memorable, including his first F1 victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix and podium finishes in Sakhir 2020 and Monaco 2023.
Speculation about Ocon’s next team is already rife, with names like Haas, Williams, and Audi being mentioned. Audi, set to take over the current Sauber team when they officially enter F1 in 2026, seems particularly interested in Ocon, especially if their top target, Carlos Sainz, remains out of reach.
A recent comment from Ocon at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix added more fuel to the fire, as he stated he still considers himself a Mercedes junior driver. This has led to talks that he might be eyeing Lewis Hamilton’s seat in 2025.
Reflecting on his time with Alpine, Ocon said, ‘It’s been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula 1. While I’ve been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me. We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times.’
He added, ‘I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.’ Ocon’s departure leaves a seat open next to Pierre Gasly at Alpine, with the team stating their 2025 driver lineup ‘will be announced in due course.’
As we await Ocon’s announcement, the F1 world is buzzing with possibilities. Whatever his next move, it’s clear that Ocon’s journey in the world of Formula 1 is far from over.
Source: Planetf1
