Esteban Ocon has criticised how Alpine handled the team order debacle that overshadowed the squad’s double points score during Formula 1’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Ocon was unable to hold eighth place over Daniel Ricciardo in the closing laps and Alpine ordered a change in the running order to allow Pierre Gasly to chase the RB.
But while Ocon’s initial response was to ignore the instruction, the Frenchman did move aside between Turns 7 and 8 on the penultimate lap to release his team-mate.
However, Gasly had dropped two seconds back from Ricciardo and was granted too much ground to make up to improve upon Alpine’s morale-boosting points return.
Ocon was unsatisfied with how the closing laps unravelled and believes he earned the right to have Gasly return the place once it was clear he couldn’t pass Ricciardo.
“I’m happy for the team, you know, to be able to score, you know, with both cars, but the order should be reversed on that occasion,” Ocon contended.
“I got the instructions, to let Pierre pass one and a half lap ago to catch Daniel, who was two and a half seconds in front and too fast for us. So the call made nonsense.
“But, you know, I’ve done my part of the job, which is, you know, being a team player, I’ve always respected the instruction that I’ve been given.
“It’s always been the case and I’ve never done anything different in my career. But, yeah, I’ve done my part of the job, but not the team today. And it is very sad.”
Asked whether he suspected events transpired like that because it has been confirmed he will be leaving the team, Ocon responded: “We’ll let the benefit of the doubt.”
However, the Anglo-French marque clarified post-race that it viewed Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas as a potential threat had it elected to swap back the positions at the end.
“Towards the end of the race, Esteban had a energy management problem, which impacted his performance,” Alpine stated.
Early into Lap 68, Esteban was instructed to let Pierre by in order to give Pierre chance to attack Ricciardo for P8.
“The reason being Esteban was losing performance with the suspected PU issue and the team had confidence for Pierre to attack Ricciardo with DRS.
“Esteban then let Pierre by halfway into Lap 69 at Turn 8. By this time was too late, Ricciardo escaped too far ahead for Pierre to put pressure on and with Hulkenberg threatening behind, it was too risky to swap back positions, the important is that the team managed to secure the important double points.”
Ocon has reiterated that he will announce his 2025 plans “when the timing is right” but admitted his drive in Montreal won’t harm his prospects with potential suitors.
The one-time grand prix winner rose from 18th on the grid to take his second points finish this term and was on course to beat his team-mate without an intervention.
“Obviously, I started last. We took the right choices at every single point,” he recalled. “And, you know, I was able to fight a lot of quicker cars as well in that moment.
“And that felt good, obviously, but it’s a little bit bitter end.
“And so, you know, I’m optimistic for the rest of the year that, you know, I can push that car to the maximum. But there is a lot to do, you know, all together with this team.”
