Alpine’s French driver Esteban Ocon found himself in hot water with his team and incurred potential disciplinary action after crashing into his teammate Pierre Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session. Ocon’s reckless attempt to pass Gasly resulted in a collision that ultimately ended his own race and damaged his car. Both the team and the race stewards were quick to condemn Ocon’s actions, with a 10-second penalty imposed and a subsequent five-place grid drop for the upcoming Canadian race.
Following the incident, Alpine team boss Bruno Famin expressed disappointment and frustration with Ocon’s behavior, emphasizing that such reckless driving has no place in the sport. Gasly, on the other hand, was left feeling upset and disappointed by his teammate’s actions, stating that clear instructions were disregarded and the team suffered as a result. Famin echoed these sentiments, highlighting that Ocon’s actions were unacceptable and that there would be consequences for his actions.
In an attempt to make amends, Ocon took to social media to apologize for his role in the incident, acknowledging that the collision was his fault and expressing hope for a points finish for the team. Despite his apology, the damage had been done, and the repercussions of his actions were already being felt. Famin emphasized that such incidents are disheartening and that the team would need to address the situation moving forward to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The fallout from Ocon’s collision with Gasly serves as a reminder of the high stakes and intense competition in Formula One racing. With thousands of individuals working tirelessly to support the team, any misstep can have far-reaching consequences. Ocon’s impetuous move not only cost him a chance at scoring points but also strained his relationship with his teammate and the team as a whole. Moving forward, Ocon will need to demonstrate greater restraint and accountability to rebuild trust and avoid further disciplinary action. Only time will tell if Ocon can learn from this experience and emerge as a more disciplined and reliable driver on the track.
