The Alpine Formula 1 driver, has made it clear that he will be racing at the Canadian Grand Prix despite speculation that he might be dropped from the team. Esteban Ocon’s statement comes in the aftermath of a first-lap crash with his teammate, Pierre Gasly, during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Taking to social media, Ocon addressed the online abuse and negativity he has received since Monaco. In his statement, he wrote:
🇫🇷 @OconEsteban issues a statement post Monaco.
He ends it with
"I’m looking forward to competing in Montreal, in front of the fantastic Canadian fans, and to the exciting opportunities the future holds."
This ends the speculation of him getting dropped in Canada. #F1 pic.twitter.com/MXj6TXFvPt— Desi Racing Co. (@DesiRacingco) May 31, 2024
“Much has been said in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix. While I have received many messages of support, I have been deeply saddened by the amount of abuse and negativity that I have received online regarding my character, my driving, and my career. Thanks to the support, hard work, and sacrifices of many people, I’ve raced in over 140 grands prix so far since my debut in 2016. I have always been a tough competitor and, like most drivers, I’ve had my share of incidents.”
The Monaco Incident which cooked the heat against Esteban Ocon
Attempting to overtake Gasly down the inside at Portier, the Alpine drivers collided, resulting in Ocon’s retirement from the race. Despite publicly apologizing for the incident, Esteban Ocon faced criticism from his team boss, Bruno Famin, who hinted at potential consequences, including the possibility of benching Ocon for the next race in Canada.
Esteban Ocon emphasized that he has always followed team instructions and raced to achieve the maximum for and with his team. He also addressed the misinformed statements circulating online:
“But the misinformed statements and gross distortions that I have seen online in recent days about my ability to work with a team have been inaccurate, hurtful, and damaging. Since my first laps in motorsport, I have approached this sport with humility, professionalism, and respect. While each driver chases individual glory, this will always be a team sport first and foremost.”
Esteban Ocon concluded his statement by expressing his excitement for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix:
“I’m looking forward to competing in Montreal, in front of the fantastic Canadian fans, and to the exciting opportunities the future holds.”
With this statement, Esteban Ocon puts an end to the speculation surrounding his participation in the Canadian GP. As the F1 season continues, fans will be watching closely to see how Ocon performs on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.
READ MORE: Max Verstappen’s ‘Complaining’ Two-Year Problem Revealed
