Esteban Ocon is not holding back. Following a tense clash with his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, Ocon has spoken out against what he calls ‘misinformed statements and gross distortions’ swirling online.
The incident in question happened on the first lap of the Monte Carlo race. Ocon made a daring move on Gasly, who was in ninth place, diving down the inside at Portier. The result? Both Alpine cars collided, and Ocon’s car was launched into the air, forcing him to retire.
Gasly didn’t mince words, criticizing Ocon for not respecting team orders. ‘The trailing car was supposed to help throughout the race,’ Gasly explained, clearly irritated by the turn of events. Alpine team principal Bruno Famin added to the drama by hinting at ‘drastic action,’ sparking rumors that Ocon might be benched for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Ocon has taken to social media to address the backlash. ‘Much has been said in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix,’ he wrote. ‘While I have received many messages of support, I have been deeply saddened by the amount of abuse and negativity that I have received online regarding my character, my driving, and my career. The misinformed statements and gross distortions that I have seen online in recent days about my ability to work with a team have been inaccurate, hurtful, and damaging.’
Ocon pointed out that he has approached motorsport with humility, professionalism, and respect ever since his first laps. ‘These values were instilled in me from a very young age,’ he emphasized.
Despite his reputation for lacking team spirit, Ocon praised his former and current teammates, including Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso, and Gasly. ‘As team-mates, we would often start races very close to each other, which in some cases meant some tough battles on track, and sometimes contact. Of course, I have made honest mistakes. We are not robots; we are athletes pushing ourselves to the limit every day to achieve our dreams of winning races,’ he admitted.
He also took the opportunity to reaffirm his respect for Gasly despite their well-documented rivalry. ‘We have always worked collaboratively and professionally inside the team, and this will continue to be the case,’ Ocon asserted.
Ocon remains firm on his stance and prepares for the Canadian Grand Prix amidst the swirling rumors and criticisms. It’s clear he’s not about to let the controversy derail his focus as he continues to strive for excellence in Formula 1.
Source: Motorsport
