Esteban Ocon is open to any opportunities in the F1 driver market as he braces himself for a crucial phase of his career. Following the Alpine A524 launch, the Frenchman was direct when asked about this year’s transfer market.
It was in 2021 that Esteban Ocon signed a long-term contract with Alpine – which expires at the end of 2024. At the time, it was CEO Laurent Rossi who negotiated and agreed to this extension.
Rossi did this without notifying other senior personnel at Alpine about the contract talks. This prompted criticism from Alain Prost, who eventually exited the team and described Rossi’s leadership style as sub-par and driven by jealousy.
Considering Rossi’s comments about Alpine’s operational efficiency last Spring – just months before he was removed from CEO position – his approach was clearly not the most effective.
He was also responsible for the disastrous Oscar Piastri contract saga. To a large degree, the departures of the Australian and Double World Champion Fernando Alonso stemmed from this impromptu Ocon deal.
Ironically, Ocon seems open to considering alternatives this year. Considering that Hulkenberg, Piastri and Alonso either directly or indirectly left because of the 27-year-old’s contract, this cannot be welcome news at Alpine.
Ocon considers other options
Speaking to the media at the Alpine A524’s launch, he was not afraid to emphasise his Mercedes ties:
“I obviously still have strong likes with Mercedes. I’m still a Mercedes junior driver. That is no secret to anyone,” he explained.
“But I’m totally dedicated to Alpine this year. I’ve got 24 races to get through, and we’ll see where we end up…
“It’s going to be a pretty crazy season on that side, for sure. Silly season has already started.”
These comments show some commitment to the Enstone-based team, although they clearly indicate a willingness to entertain other options.
The one-time winner explained that “if you do a good job, you’ll always have opportunities.” It seems safe to assume that many drivers will share this mindset for 2024.
Earlier in the winter, it was reported that Ocon’s expectations for Alpine in 2024 were quite low.
Although it is impossible to fully verify this claim, the next few months will be telling regardless. If Bruno Famin’s team cannot compete at the front, Ocon and Gasly will surely explore other avenues.
Whether Mercedes are interested in the Frenchman, of course, is another matter entirely. Still, plenty of moves and conversations can be expected over the coming months.
Author: Jaden Diaz-Ndisang
