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BWT Alpine F1 team on Monday, June 3 confirmed that their key driver, Esteban Ocon will part ways with the team at the end of the 2024 F1 season. The French driver, who joined the Enstone-based team in 2020 will complete his five-year relationship with the side at the end of 2024 season.
The Alpine boss Bruno Famin, who has been considering options for the 2025 line-up, has decided not to renew Ocon’s contract, thus parting ways with him. “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 win,” Famin said in the official statement.
“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,” he added.
The 27-year-old, who has had a memorable time with Alpine, clinching his as well as his team’s first Grand Prix win which came at the Hungarian GP in 2021, also picked two more podiums - at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix and 2023 Grand Prix. He further achieved the best year-end finish of eighth in 2022.
Speaking after this announcement, Ocon said, “It’s been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula 1. 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 season,” he further added.
The Alpine Renault team is currently placed ninth in the 2024 Constructor’s Standings with two points with Esteban Ocon sitting at 16th place with one point after eight rounds.
