Formula 1 Rumor: Ocon may quit Alpine team before Abu Dhabi (3rd Update)

BWT Alpine Formula One Team has announced what everyone already knew – that Reserve Driver Jack Doohan will race in the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in place of Esteban Ocon. The change allows Esteban to be released to Haas to drive in the post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

Jack, who has already been announced as an official driver for the 2025 season alongside Pierre Gasly, will race with the #61 as his registered Reserve Driver number and will also participate in the end-of-season test for the team at the Yas Marina Circuit.

The team would like to thank Esteban for his time at the team and he will remain part of the team’s history achieving the first win for Alpine in Formula 1. We wish Esteban the best for the future.

(GMM) Alpine’s team boss says it’s “obvious” Esteban Ocon wants to vacate his cockpit with immediate effect.

The Frenchman, whose relationship with the team hit the rocks mid-season, prompting him to sign for Haas for 2025, has been suggesting for several grands prix that his car is no longer as fast as teammate Pierre Gasly’s.

“I think we need to talk to the team, certainly, on that side because in any case for my part I did a good lap,” Ocon told Canal Plus, after he qualified dead last in Qatar – while Gasly was P11.

“There was nothing more to do in that lap – no mistakes. It was clean from start to finish. But it’s clear that we lacked a lot of performance.

“It was the same in the race, we were between seven tenths and one second (slower), rather than between five and seven tenths in previous weekends. So now it’s starting to be a lot and it’s worrying from our side.

“For now, it’s certain that we’re not in contention at all to score points.”

Then, after crashing out of the Qatar GP, Ocon raised eyebrows by declaring: “I would like to thank the mechanics, the engineers for all their efforts on this race, but also on the rest of the year especially.

“It was important for me because in the difficult moments we continued to push and I want to thank them for that. When it’s going well, it’s good to stick together. But when it’s not going so well, the engineers and the mechanics stick together, and that’s the most important thing.”

When asked what he means, Ocon added: “Important to look ahead and see what we can prepare for the future. We’ll see.”

Many think it was Ocon’s immediate farewell to Alpine, perhaps as part a deal where the team allows him to test the Haas in the post-Abu Dhabi GP test.

Some publications think the deal is set in stone already, with his 2025 successor Jack Doohan to race in Ocon’s car in the Abu Dhabi finale next weekend.

Team boss Oliver Oakes denies anything is certain. “There has been a discussion,” he told French-language news agency AFP, “but there is no definitive answer yet.

“But we have talked about it. It is a bit complex. It is obvious that he would like to be released earlier. I think it comes from all the parties,” Oakes added, referring to Ocon’s existing contractual ties to Mercedes and Toto Wolff.

Oakes continued: “You could say it would be good to get Jack in earlier, and for Esteban it would be good to move on earlier. I think it suits everybody. It’s a natural discussion.

As for Wolff, representing Ocon’s career more broadly, it is believed he will negotiate on the matter directly with Alpine’s executive advisor Flavio Briatore in the coming hours.

“First of all,” said the Mercedes team boss, “we have a contract under which we provide Alpine with the services of a driver, and this contract expires at the end of the year. That is the basis.

“It is better for Esteban’s future to let him start with Haas sooner, and maybe it depends on whether he races in Abu Dhabi or not. We discussed this today and will continue the discussions tomorrow.”

It has been confirmed that today’s Qatar GP was Esteban’s last race for Alpine. This rumor is upgraded to ‘fact.’

Jack Doohan will drive the car in next weekend’s Abu Dhabi GP.

Esteban Ocon is telling the media after the Qatar race that he will step out of the Alpine Formula 1 car with one race to go because he and the team are not happy with one another.

However, Team Boss Ollie Oakes, when interviewed after the race, said he was expecting Ocon to be in the car in Abu Dhabi next weekend.

The talk is that Jack Doohan will be in the car in Abu Dhabi and it may have been a decision made above Oakes head by none other than Flavio Briatore.

Ocon retired on the first lap of the Qatar race after becoming embroiled in a clash with Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg.

Ocon will drive for the Haas team in 2025.