Alpine boss Bruno Famin wanted to suspend Esteban Ocon over his collision with team-mate Pierre Gasly in the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, L’Équipe has reported.
Ocon came under scathing criticism from his own team in Monte Carlo amid his ambitious attempt to Gasly on the opening lap almost ruining both racers’ prospects.
The Alpine drivers were both running in the lower reaches of the points when Ocon dived up Gasly’s inside into Portier and the pair came to blows on the corner’s exit.
Gasly would incur a front right puncture from the contact which sent Ocon’s A524 airborne and the resulting thud against the ground handed his car terminal damage.
However, a red flag to clear up an incident at the back involving Sergio Perez and the Haas cars spared Alpine and allowed Gasly to restart the race back in 10th spot.
But despite delivering a points finish to end his barren run at the beginning of the season, Gasly was incensed that Ocon had risked compromising both drivers’ races.
The Frenchman highlighted that Ocon had defied an earlier team arrangement, while an incandescent Famin stressed to French television that action would be taken.
Famin’s comments were interpreted in some quarters to mean that Ocon’s punishment could even extend to being placed on the sidelines for an entire race weekend.
According to French outlet L’Équipe, Famin intended to impose such a measure and install reserve driver Jack Doohan as his replacement in the Canadian Grand Prix.
However, the report goes on to state that such a decision would have needed to have been “approved by the Normandy manufacturer’s lawyers” to stop a legal case.
Alpine is reported to have wanted to avoid a similar scenario that emanated when it strived to prevent Oscar Piastri from agreeing on a move to McLaren in mid-2022.
However, the Contract Recognition Board ended up siding with the proposition that the arrangement between the Australian and the Enstone-based team was invalid.
Alpine replied to that setback through hiring established lawyer Caroline McGrory to ensure such loopholes in contracts would not be exploited inside the team again.
L’Équipe has stated that Alpine’s revised legal team advised the bosses to scale back their plans as there was a risk Ocon could’ve turned up to Montreal with a bailiff.
The French paper added that Ocon “could have the deprivation of his right to work noted and demand that he assert his rights and therefore get into his single-seater”.
Therefore, Ocon will arrive in Canada this weekend to race as normal, though he will have to serve the five-place grid drop the stewards in Monaco handed out to him.
With the Anglo-French marque still struggling to unlock competitiveness from its 2024 package, Ocon’s chance to add to his single point this term will be even harder.
The Mercedes-backed driver will also have to deal with numerous questions regarding his future amid Alpine’s announcement that he will vacate his position in 2025.
Ocon is not thought to be under consideration to replace Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes next season even on a fixed one-term arrangement, despite his ties to the side.
Instead, the ex-Manor and Force India driver is known to have been holding talks with Haas over replacing either Sauber-bound Nico Hulkenberg or Kevin Magnussen.
However, Ocon could also stand to partner Hulkenberg should the Hinwil-based camp’s top target Carlos Sainz opt to turn down the Audi venture to move to Williams.
Ocon is understood to be another candidate to slot in next to Alex Albon at the British outfit, with Logan Sargeant all but certain to lose his seat come the end of 2024.
