Esteban Ocon has revealed he received strong support from Williams F1 team chief James Vowles after a controversial clash with his teammate Piere Gasly at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The clash at the Portier corner not only forced Ocon to retire from the race but also left his teammate’s car significantly damaged. The incident stirred up a storm within the Alpine team culminating in the announcement that Ocon would move to Haas at season’s end.
The aftermath saw Alpine’s then-team principal, Bruno Famin, expressing clear annoyance with Ocon’s decision-making during the race. To make things worse, Ocon faced a potential suspension for the following Grand Prix in Canada, a threat that, although it didn’t come to fruition, showed just how big a deal this looked to be.
Adding to the turbulence was the onslaught of backlash Ocon experienced on social media, forcing him to address the negative reactions publicly.
Esteban Ocon of France and BWT Alpine F1 Team during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on July 25, 2024 in Spa, Belgium. Ocon reflects on the support…
Esteban Ocon of France and BWT Alpine F1 Team during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Bahrain at Bahrain International Circuit on July 25, 2024 in Spa, Belgium. Ocon reflects on the support he had from James Vowles after his Monaco crash.
More
Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
Amid this storm, a supportive phone call from James Vowles, the Williams team principal and Ocon’s former Mercedes mentor, provided a much-needed reprieve.
“Of course, it’s good to have support from the right people. There’s been a lot of noise, which is never a nice thing,” Ocon commented on the support he received.
“I did a mistake on the exit of the corner. I didn’t leave enough space on the exit. But you know, the move early on was not too bad. It was the exit that was too tight. And that’s where I misjudged the gap.”
The Frenchman continued, quoting former F1 driver Damon Hill:
“When there’s noise left to right, it’s always that there is something big that has happened. And it took for sure too much proportion, especially on social media, which is what Damon Hill said… He said, ‘I’m glad I didn’t drive in the social media days’. That’s basically what he said. Back then, yes, you would have had a conversation with the press and then you come back to the next race, but that’s why I made the social media statement that I made – and it was important to raise my voice at the time that I did,” Ocon elaborated.
The driver is now determined to put the incident behind him and focus on future races with the American team in 2025.
“There’s not much more to say, you know, on that side. Things that have happened have passed, and yeah, we move on,” he concluded.
Source link : https://www.newsweek.com/sports/formula1/esteban-ocon-reveals-strong-support-williams-f1-team-chief-after-controversial-clash-1936159
Author :
Publish date : 2024-08-07 21:00:54
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
