Esteban Ocon has disclosed that he received backing from the “right people” following his contentious encounter with Pierre Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix.
The French driver dived to the inside of his Alpine teammate Gasly at Portier on the first lap of the race, leading to a collision that ended Ocon’s race and severely damaged Gasly’s car.
Ocon faced criticism from then-team principal Bruno Famin, and it was soon announced that he would depart the team at the season’s conclusion, with Haas confirmed as his destination for the next year.
He even faced the possibility of suspension for the Canadian Grand Prix, a threat that ultimately didn’t come to fruition, while the backlash on social media prompted Ocon to speak out against the reaction.
After revealing that Williams team principal James Vowles, a key figure in the Mercedes setup through which Ocon progressed in the junior ranks, reached out with a supportive call, Ocon shared with Autosport in an exclusive interview: “It’s certainly reassuring to receive support from the right people. There’s been a lot of commotion, which is never pleasant.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 A524
Photo by: Erik Junius
“When there’s a lot of commotion, it’s typically due to a significant event. It certainly escalated too much, particularly on social media, which is what Damon Hill mentioned…
“He remarked, ‘I’m thankful I didn’t race during the social media era.’ That sums it up well. In the past, you’d have a discussion with the press and then move on to the next race. That’s why I chose to make a statement on social media—it was essential for me to voice my perspective at that moment.
“There’s not much more to add on that front. What’s done is done, and now we move forward.”
Ocon reiterated that he promptly acknowledged his mistake at the Monaco GP, while also contextualizing the backlash directed at him for his overtaking attempt.
“I made an error at the corner’s exit,” Ocon reflects. “I didn’t provide enough room at the exit. The maneuver itself was acceptable, but the exit was too tight. That’s where I miscalculated the gap.
“Sadly, we made contact. I signaled to the team and apologized, but it should have ended there. Unfortunately, it continued. However, things have settled down since then. People have calmed down on social media, which is a positive sign.”
