Esteban Ocon has slammed the reaction to his opening lap crash with Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco and revealed he will compete in the Canadian Grand Prix.
While attempting to pass Gasly on the inside at Portier, the Alpine drivers collided, forcing Ocon to retire from the race. Ocon issued a public apology, but an infuriated Alpine team principal Bruno Famin warned of “consequences”, and reports later emerged that benching Ocon for the next race in Canada was being “seriously” considered.
Esteban Ocon issues heartfelt statement after confirming Canadian Grand Prix
Ocon has taken to social media to speak out against the “slander” and “false statements” he has received online since Monaco, and has confirmed he will race in Montreal, dispelling speculation about his ability as a team player.
He wrote: “Much has been said in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix and whilst I have received many messages of support, I am deeply saddened by the amount of criticism and negativity I have received online regarding my character, my driving and my career.”
“Thanks to the support, hard work and sacrifices of many people, I have competed in more than 140 Grands Prix since my debut in 2016. I have always been a tough competitor and, like most drivers, I have had many accidents.
“I was fortunate to be joined by the race winner, Daniel [Ricciardo]Czech Republic [Perez] Pierre and Fernando are double champions [Alonso].
“As teammates, we often started races very close to each other, which sometimes led to tough battles on the track and even contact.
“Of course, I’ll be honest and say that we have made mistakes. We are not robots, we are athletes who push ourselves to the limit every day to fulfil our dream of winning races. F1 is a sport where emotions run high and passion runs deep. I see and feel that every weekend on the track and on social media… good and bad.”
“However, the false statements and egregious distortions I have recently seen online about my ability to work with our team are inaccurate, hurtful and damaging.
Can Alpine avoid another clash between Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly?
👉 Helmut Marko points out Alpine ‘problems’ that make Esteban Ocon’s case ‘very difficult’
👉 F1 2025 driver lineup: Who’s already confirmed for the 2025 grid?
“From the time I took my first lap in motorsport, I have approached the sport with humility, professionalism and respect. These values have been instilled in me from an early age.”
“Although each driver is chasing individual glory, this is always first and foremost a team sport. I have always followed the instructions given to me and raced for and with the team to achieve the maximum results.”
“I take responsibility for the accident on the first lap last Sunday. Despite the retirement, I am pleased that the team has added some points to its score after what has been a tough start to the season for us all.
“I respect Pierre as a teammate and a competitor. Our work as a team has always been and will continue to be collaborative and professional.”
“In Formula 1 there is no reward without risk. The start of a race is always tense, especially in Monaco where the opening laps can determine the final outcome.”
“At the end of the day, we are all competitors and hard but fair racing across the field is what makes our sport great and the main reason I love it so much.
“I look forward to competing in front of the incredible Canadian fans in Montreal and the exciting opportunities that await me in the future.”
Alpine has scored just two points so far this season and sits ninth in the F1 2024 constructors’ standings.
Read next: Alpine announces departure of long-time team player
