Ocon made a daring transfer on then ninth-placed Gasly within the first lap of the Monte Carlo race, diving down the within at Portier, which turned out to be too optimistic – each Alpine automobiles collided and the previous needed to retire after being launched within the air.
Gasly criticised his accomplice for not respecting workforce orders, explaining “the trailing automobile was supposed to assist all through the race”, whereas workforce principal Bruno Famin rocked the boat by stating his intention to “take drastic motion”.
This remark led to rumours swirling on-line, with some media speculating that Ocon can be benched for the Canadian Grand Prix.
Whereas it’s understood that Alpine has been contemplating a spread of choices, Ocon has now taken to social media to reaffirm he’ll participate within the Montreal race and defend himself from the waves of criticism which were coming his approach.
“A lot has been stated within the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix,” the Frenchman wrote. “Whereas I’ve acquired many messages of help, I’ve been deeply saddened by the quantity of abuse and negativity that I’ve acquired on-line concerning my character, my driving, and my profession.
“The misinformed statements and gross distortions that I’ve seen on-line in current days about my potential to work with a workforce have been inaccurate, hurtful, and damaging.
“Since my first laps in motorsport, I’ve approached this sport with humility, professionalism, and respect. These values had been instilled in me from a really younger age.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine
Photograph by: Alpine
In a context the place his fame within the paddock is that of a driver who lacks workforce spirit, Ocon praised former and present companions Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Gasly, earlier than admitting: “As team-mates, we might typically begin races very shut to one another, which in some instances meant some powerful battles on monitor, and generally contact.
“After all, I’ve made sincere errors. We’re not robots; we’re athletes pushing ourselves to the restrict on daily basis to attain our desires of successful races.”
Ocon took this chance to reaffirm his respect for Gasly “as a team-mate and as a competitor”, within the context of their well-documented rivalry.
“We’ve at all times labored collaboratively and professionally contained in the workforce, and this may proceed to be the case,” Ocon asserted.
