In a dramatic turn of events at the Canadian Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon has labeled Alpine's team orders as "unexplainable." The French driver's day took a nosedive due to a series of controversial decisions made by his team, leaving him visibly frustrated and questioning the rationale behind their strategies.
The Unfolding Drama
Ocon, who was running comfortably in eighth place, encountered an energy management issue on lap 67 of 70. This issue significantly reduced his car’s battery capacity, preventing him from utilizing its full potential. Consequently, Daniel Ricciardo edged past him for eighth place, and Ocon struggled to defend his position.
With only two laps remaining, Ocon's engineer instructed him to concede ninth place to his teammate Pierre Gasly. Gasly had demonstrated a faster pace and was expected to challenge Ricciardo for the position. Initially, Ocon refused to comply but eventually agreed to swap positions on lap 69, believing Gasly would return the favor if he couldn't overtake Ricciardo by the race's end. However, this reversal never materialized as Ocon's engineer was only "working" on the possibility. By the final lap, the situation remained unaltered, hindered further by Nico Hülkenberg's substantial threat in 11th place, making any strategic reversal untenable.
Contentious Team Orders
This incident at the Canadian Grand Prix has further deepened the growing rift between Ocon and Alpine. Earlier, the team and Ocon had announced their decision to part ways at the end of the 2024 season. This follows another controversial moment at the Monaco Grand Prix two weeks prior, where Ocon and Gasly collided after Ocon's overly ambitious overtaking attempt on the opening lap.
Ocon's Reaction
Speaking candidly after the race, Ocon did not hold back his frustration. "Forget it! It is unexplainable, that one," Ocon stated emphatically. "I've always respected the instructions that I've been given as a driver, and I've done that once more. I'm the nice guy!"
Ocon further criticized the team's approach: "I've done my part of the job -- the team hasn’t, honestly. It is not fair on that race... So I'm very frustrated with how things have played out. I guess there are a lot of reasons, so we'll let the benefit of the doubt go on."
The French driver also expressed disbelief over the practicality of the orders, given the significant gap behind Ricciardo. "No, because we were two and a half seconds behind Daniel. In one lap, not even a Red Bull can catch up the gap. So, no, it makes no sense. So, either we don’t know what we are doing or we don’t realize how far it is, or it’s something else. It wasn’t the right decision," he said.
A Hopeful Outlook
Despite the controversy and frustration, Ocon remains committed to doing his best with the resources at hand. "Like usual, I'm just trying to do the best I can with what I’ve got in hand. That’s not going to change," he asserted. "I've got a very close team around me with my engineers, my mechanics -- all these guys, they are pushing day in and day out for me to perform."
Reflecting on the overall performance, Ocon added, "Today, I think they were proud of the race that we were doing. But it's a different story at the end."
In conclusion, Ocon is resolved to persevere despite the challenges and controversies. "I've had harder times, so I will push hard anyway," he concluded, indicating his determination to finish the season on a high note regardless of the internal issues within the team.
The unfolding tension between Ocon and Alpine promises further drama in the races to come. How both parties navigate the remainder of the season will undoubtedly be a focal point for Formula 1 enthusiasts and experts alike.