In a stunning turn of events at the Canadian Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon has described Alpine's team orders as "unexplainable," highlighting a contentious issue within the team that could significantly impact both the driver's and the team's future performance.
The Incident at the Canadian Grand Prix
Ocon, who was running in eighth place, encountered an energy management issue on lap 67 of the 70-lap race. This problem reduced his car’s battery capacity, preventing him from utilizing its full power. As a result, Daniel Ricciardo managed to overtake him for eighth place, leaving Ocon struggling to maintain his position.
With only two laps remaining, Ocon's race engineer instructed him to cede ninth place to his teammate, Pierre Gasly, who was demonstrating superior pace and was expected to challenge Ricciardo. Despite his initial resistance, Ocon eventually complied with this directive on lap 69. Under the assumption that Gasly would return the favor if he couldn’t overtake Ricciardo by the end of the race, Ocon relinquished his position.
However, the anticipated swap never occurred. Ocon’s engineer indicated that they were "working" on the possibility, but by the final lap, the situation remained unchanged. With Nico Hülkenberg posing a substantial threat from 11th place, any strategic reversal became unfeasible, leading to a frustrating stalemate for Ocon.
Contentious Team Orders
The incident at the Canadian Grand Prix has exacerbated the increasing rift between Ocon and Alpine. Earlier, it was announced that Ocon and the team would part ways at the end of the 2024 season. This follows another controversial moment at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks prior, where Ocon and Gasly collided following an overly ambitious overtaking attempt by Ocon on the opening lap. These incidents suggest a deeper underlying discord within the team.
Ocon's Reaction
Speaking candidly after the race, Ocon did not hold back his frustration. "Forget it! It is unexplainable, that one," Ocon said. "I've always respected the instructions that I've been given as a driver, and I've done that once more. I'm the nice guy!"
Ocon further criticized the team’s strategy: "I've done my part of the job—the team hasn’t, honestly. It is not fair in that race. I’m very frustrated with how things have played out. I guess there are a lot of reasons, so we’ll let the benefit of the doubt go on."
The French driver also expressed his disbelief over the practicality of the team orders, citing the significant gap behind Ricciardo. "No, because we were two and a half seconds behind Daniel. In one lap, not even a Red Bull can catch up the gap. So, no, it makes no sense. So, either we don’t know what we are doing or we don’t realize how far it is, or it’s something else. It wasn’t the right decision," he asserted.
A Hopeful Outlook
Despite the controversy and frustration, Ocon remains committed to doing his best with the resources at hand. "Like usual, I'm just trying to do the best I can with what I’ve got in my hands. That’s not going to change," he affirmed.
"I've got a very close team around me with my engineers, my mechanics—all these guys are pushing day in and day out for me to perform," he added. Reflecting on the overall performance, Ocon said, "Today, I think they were proud of the race that we were doing. But it's a different story at the end."
In conclusion, Ocon is resolved to persevere despite the challenges and controversies. "I've had harder times, so I will push hard anyway," he declared, indicating his determination to finish the season on a high note, regardless of the issues within the team.
The unfolding tension between Ocon and Alpine is a storyline that promises further drama in the races to come. How both parties navigate the remainder of the season will be a focal point for F1 enthusiasts and experts alike.