Ocon risks losing F1 career after Alpine split

Esteban Ocon may be at risk of losing his position in Formula 1 at the end of the year.

Speculation about Ocon's potential switch from the underperforming Alpine team to Haas was already rampant before he infuriated boss Bruno Famin by colliding with teammate Pierre Gasly during the first lap in Monaco.

Shortly after, it was confirmed by Alpine that Ocon, aged 27, would not be continuing with the Enstone-based team after this season ends.

According to L'Equipe, Famin had even considered sidelining Ocon for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix as a direct consequence of the Monaco debacle. However, this was reportedly overruled by Renault's contract lawyers who were hesitant to take such action.

Ocon's past conflicts with teammates before Gasly, combined with his reputation for being exceedingly self-focused, have left many teams throughout the pitlane hesitant to consider him for their 2025 roster.

"It will cost Esteban heavily as no front-running team would entertain that kind of mentality, or even perhaps any team," remarked Sky UK's Martin Brundle.

Ex-F1 driver Giedo van der Garde also noted that Ocon's reputation has become increasingly negative. "There were rumblings in the (Alpine) team for some time," he commented on his DRS De Race Show podcast. "He has been there for a while and the collaboration with Gasly is simply going very badly."

"He is a difficult boy to work with," van der Garde continued. "He is very fast, but he is also sometimes someone who draws blood from under your nails. And a team like that doesn't want that."

"As a team, you want a team player. And he is only concerned with himself, because he is a heavy egoist."

Prominent drivers like Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso have previously criticized Ocon's approach. "And that is now costing him his head," van der Garde foresees.

"He is grumpy, he is always angry, he is always preoccupied with himself. That only brings unrest. He is not being sent off for nothing."

Although Ocon has been considered a potential candidate for Sauber if Carlos Sainz decides against joining the team now owned by Audi, van der Garde is skeptical about Haas's interest. "Of course he can talk to Haas now to get a seat there, but I think they are also now scratching their heads," he observed. "I think it will be very difficult for him to get a job anywhere."