Esteban Ocon has spoken out following his untimely exit from the Alpine F1 crew.
Alpine introduced on Monday following the Qatar Grand Prix that Ocon would get replaced by 2025 rookie Jack Doohan for this weekend’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Stories of a shock swap for the season finale first emerged after Sunday’s race in Qatar, earlier than Alpine confirmed the hypothesis on Monday.
Ocon launched a press release on Tuesday thanking his crew at Alpine and insisting an early exit was not how he “wished issues to finish”.
“I want to before everything thank the mechanics and engineers throughout all features on the observe, Enstone, and Viry-Châtillon who’ve raced alongside me these final 5 seasons,” Ocon wrote.
“We now have shared a lot collectively, and I’m proud to name lots of you my associates. I understand how a lot all of these moments meant for everyone and feeling that sense of feat and pleasure alongside the crew is what I’m taking away with me.
“It has not been a straightforward 12 months on observe for the crew and the second a part of the season has been particularly troublesome. For varied causes.
“I don’t remorse a single factor understanding I gave it 100% each single session. Like I all the time have.
“To the lots of of hard-working women and men at Enstone and Viry, I apologise that I won’t be able come see you in individual and have a correct farewell.
“As , the plan was all the time to race one final time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all subsequent week. I used to be wanting ahead to each of these issues.
“This isn’t how I wished issues to finish. That stated, the world of F1 is small and I’m certain I’ll see lots of you once more quickly.
“I might additionally prefer to want nothing however nice issues to my buddy Jack as he takes this subsequent large step in his profession at this week’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.”
Alpine issued a quick response to Ocon’s assertion, which learn: “Eternally engrained within the Crew’s historical past. Thanks Esteban. Better of luck.”
The 28-year-old Frenchman will be part of Haas subsequent season and it has been reported the early termination frees him as much as drive for the American outfit within the post-season check subsequent week.
Alpine insist cut up ‘fits one another’
Talking on Sunday, earlier than the choice was formally confirmed, Alpine crew principal Oliver Oakes steered a cut up can be greatest for each events.
Nevertheless, Ocon has made it clear in his goodbye message that he feels somewhat otherwise.
“I feel it comes from all sides actually. I assume you may say it’s good to get Jack in early, I feel you may say from Esteban’s facet it’s good to maneuver on early,” Oakes defined.
“I feel it fits everyone, so I feel the dialogue was fairly pure actually, and I feel Esteban’s been an enormous a part of this crew as effectively and from each side it fits one another.
“I feel actually the larger half is kind of a pure evolution actually of he’s transferring on, does it swimsuit each of us to do this only a bit earlier for the final spherical or not?
“From the opposite facet it’s additionally [that] you may have a look at it because it’s advantageous to get Jack within the crew working with everyone and get these butterflies gone now somewhat than subsequent 12 months in Australia.”