Esteban Ocon and Alpine will part ways at the end of the 2024 Formula 1 season, with Ocon promising to announce his plans for 2025 “very soon”.
It comes just over a week after Ocon made headlines for all the wrong reasons in Monaco, where he collided with Alpine team-mate Pierre Gasly on the first lap of the race, after running into Gasly's car coming from Portier.
This ended Ocon's race despite a subsequent red flag stop and led to team boss Bruno Famine threatening “consequences” after the race.
A few days after the incident, Okon took to social media to defend himself against the “abuse and negativity” he received following the clash.
Now, one week after their confrontation, Alpine and Ocon have announced that they will part ways at the end of the current season.
The move was expected with Ocon being a target of the soon-to-be Audi (Sauber) works team and a candidate for the vacant positions at Haas and Williams.
But the exact timing comes as a surprise. But it is not believed to be related to Famen's claim about “consequences.”
The BWT Alpine F1 Team and I have jointly agreed to part ways at the end of the 2024 F1 season.
The Enstone-Viry family has played an important role in my life, dating back to my Lotus Junior days. I feel very lucky and privileged to have achieved the things that I have… pic.twitter.com/crzJwfQRpx
– Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) June 3, 2024
“It was an important period of my life to race with this team in Formula 1. While I have been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, I started my career at Enstone when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me,” said Ocon.
“We've had some great moments together, and some difficult moments as well, and I'm definitely grateful to everyone in the team for these unforgettable times. I will announce my plans very soon, but in the meantime, my full focus is on achieving what is required.” The right path for this team and a successful completion of the remainder of the season.
Famen thanked Ocon for his “commitment to the team over the last five years” and highlighted Ocon winning his first (and so far only) Grand Prix win with the team in Hungary in 2021.
He continued: “We still have 16 races to complete in 2024 with a clear goal: to continue working tirelessly as a team to push for the best results on track.”
“We wish Esteban the best in the next chapter of his driving career when that moment comes.”
Alpine's statement confirms that suggestions that Ocon would step down for Canada were far from reality.
Carlos Sainz remains the key piece to the 2025 driver market puzzle, with Red Bull on the verge of recommitting to Sergio Perez and Mercedes still intent on promoting Kimi Antonelli as Lewis Hamilton's replacement.
Sainz looks set to choose between Sauber and Williams for next season, with Ocon – among others including Valtteri Bottas – also in the mix of available seats in the back half of the grid.
Gasly is also a free agent for 2025 but is expected to remain in Alpine.
The team's reserve driver Jack Doohan is among the contenders to be Gasly's team-mate alongside the likes of Bottas.
