Esteban Ocon has firmly dismissed any suggestions that Jack Doohan taking his car for FP1 at the Canadian Grand Prix is a penalty associated with his Monaco collision with teammate Pierre Gasly.
Ocon, who is set to leave Alpine at the end of the year, addressed the speculation head-on. There have been rumors sparked by his controversial bump with Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix, an incident that left team boss Bruno Famin warning of consequences. But Ocon insists that these claims are unfounded, shedding light on the actual reasoning behind the decision.
“I’ve seen that [punishment suggestion] a lot from the media, and it’s not the case at all,” Ocon stated. “As a team, we have to give two FP1s for rookies. And I’m giving mine to Jack here. It’s a track that’s going to be green to start with, with the new tarmac, and it’s quite dirty at the moment. So, things need to be cleaned up a little bit.”
Furthermore, Ocon’s recent five-place grid penalty for the race diminishes the significance of his qualifying performance, making the timing of Doohan’s FP1 not only strategic but sensible. “My qualifying is a lot less important than usual. It’s more the race trim,” he explained. “And, from a team point of view, we think we are going to have probably a more competitive car later in the year. So, for us, you know, to do that [run Doohan] early is a good thing, instead of doing it in Mexico, Abu Dhabi, like we usually do.”
The move to have Doohan in Ocon’s car early in the season is a departure from Alpine’s past practices. Historically, the team would reserve their rookie practice runs for the final races of the campaign. But according to Ocon, this shift in approach is purely tactical, aimed at maximizing Alpine’s performance throughout the year.
While the fallout from the Monaco incident did play a part in Ocon’s announcement to leave the team, it was not the sole factor in the decision. Discussions between Ocon and Alpine about their future had been ongoing well before the collision. “We’ve been talking with the team for several months,” he revealed. “Alpine is a big group, Renault is a big group, and it’s the kind of team that is not taking decisions on just a single race.”
Ocon reflected on his five-year tenure with Alpine, highlighting both the highs and lows. “I’ve spent five years inside this team. We had some amazing moments and [tougher] ones, but five years in terms of Formula 1 world is a long time. Definitely. And, yeah, I’m excited for the challenge ahead and excited to finish the collaboration on a high,” he shared.
Despite the Monaco clash, Ocon assured that there is no lingering tension between him and the team. “I was at the factory for normal preparation before the weekend, and had a chat with Bruno,” he said. “We were just talking about a lot of things and there’s no awkward moment, and there is no damage between our relationships altogether.”
Regarding any potential changes in racing approach with Gasly, Ocon was clear: “As a driver and with the team I have always followed the instructions I’ve been given to race. So, there have been no changes.”
Ocon’s clarification helps dispel the rumors, emphasizing that the decision to have Doohan in the car for FP1 is rooted in strategy rather than punishment. As he prepares to leave Alpine, Ocon seems focused on ending his tenure on a positive note, without any unresolved conflicts with the team.
Source: Motorsport
