F1 news: Esteban Ocon to leave Alpine at end of 2024 season

Esteban Ocon will ‘announce my plans very soon’ after Alpine confirmed on Monday that he will leave them at the end of the 2024 F1 season.

It will be interesting to see if Ocon can secure a seat on the F1 grid for the 2025 season as he has hardly covered himself in glory this season.

The 27-year-old is currently 16th in the drivers’ standings having bagged only one point - he finished 12th in the 2023 season having secured 58 points.

The writing was on the wall for him at Alpine after he collided with team-mate Pierre Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Alpine team principal Bruno Famin was furious with Ocon and warned "there would be consequences” - something he has delivered on with Monday’s announcement.

Ocon has been with Alpine since 2020 and his high point came when he took the chequered flag at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The French driver told the press: “While I've been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me.

"We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times.

"I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season."

Famin told the press: "We would like to firstly thank Esteban for his commitment to the team for the past five years.

“During his time, we have celebrated some fantastic moments together, the best of which coming at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with a memorable race win.

"We still have 16 races to complete in 2024 together with a clear objective: to continue to work tirelessly as a team to push for the best on-track results.

“We wish Esteban the very best for the next chapter of his driving career when that moment comes."

Here, Sports News Blitz takes a look at Ocon’s career so far.

Early Career

Karting

Ocon's racing story began in the wild world of karting, where he quickly became the kid to beat. In 2007, he won the French Minime Championship, and in 2008, he snagged the French Cadet Championship.

It was clear he had a need for speed – and a knack for making other kids eat his dust.

Formula Renault

In 2012, Ocon graduated to single-seaters, competing in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula Renault 2.0 Alps championships.

By 2013, he finished third in the Eurocup series, showing everyone that he wasn't just fast in a go-kart – he was fast in anything with wheels.

Progression to Higher Formulas

Formula 3

Ocon's big break came in 2014 when he raced in the FIA European Formula 3 Championship with Prema Powerteam.

He dominated the series like a boss, winning the championship with nine wins and 21 podiums in 33 races. His performance was so impressive that Formula 1 teams started taking notice.

GP3 Series

In 2015, Ocon raced in the GP3 Series with ART Grand Prix. Despite winning only one race, his consistent performances throughout the season earned him the championship title.

Entry into Formula 1

Manor Racing (2016)

Ocon made his Formula 1 debut in the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix with Manor Racing, replacing Rio Haryanto.

While Manor wasn't exactly a front-runner (more like a back-marker), Ocon gained valuable experience and showed flashes of brilliance.

Force India / Racing Point (2017-2018)

In 2017, Ocon secured a full-time seat with Force India (later known as Racing Point). Over the next two seasons, he consistently scored points and often outperformed his more experienced teammate, Sergio Perez.

His best finish was fifth place, multiple times – not too shabby for a young gun.

Unfortunately, despite his strong performances, he was left without a seat for the 2019 season due to the team's financial woes and a game of musical chairs that didn't go his way.

Return to Formula 1

Mercedes Reserve Driver (2019)

In 2019, Ocon became the reserve driver for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team. This role allowed him to stay involved in the sport, working closely with one of the top teams and keeping his racing skills sharp.

Renault / Alpine (2020-Present)

Ocon made his grand return to the grid in 2020 with Renault, teaming up with Daniel Ricciardo. He continued with the team as it rebranded to Alpine in 2021.

The highlight of his career came in 2021 when he won his first Formula 1 race at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Style and Reputation

Ocon is known for his smooth driving style, strong racecraft, and tire management skills - basically, he's the Zen master of the race track.

His career has been a rollercoaster of overcoming obstacles and consistently delivering strong performances. With a race win and numerous solid finishes, he's firmly established himself as a rising star in Formula 1.

Future Prospects

As of 2024, Esteban Ocon continues to race with Alpine and is a key player in the team's plans.

With his career trajectory pointing upwards, he's got the potential to achieve even more success in Formula 1.

Fans and rivals alike know that Ocon is here to stay, and he's ready to take on whatever the racing world throws at him - preferably with a smile and a need for speed.

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