Alpine team boss Oliver Oakes admits it is "obvious" that Esteban Ocon wants to vacate his seat before the season finale in Abu Dhabi, as discussions over an early release continue.
Ocon, who has signed with Haas for 2025, has been openly critical of his Alpine car's performance in recent races, suggesting it is not on par with teammate Pierre Gasly's. After qualifying last in Qatar while Gasly secured P11, Ocon told Canal Plus:
"I think we need to talk to the team, certainly, on that side. I did a good lap—no mistakes. It was clean from start to finish. But it's clear that we lacked a lot of performance."
Ocon then raised eyebrows by expressed gratitude to his team after crashing out of the race, in what sounded like a final farewell.
"I would like to thank the mechanics and engineers for all their efforts on this race, but also on the rest of the year especially," he said. "When it's not going so well, the engineers and the mechanics stick together, and that's the most important thing."
His comments have fueled speculation that Ocon's statements were effectively a farewell to Alpine, with reports suggesting his 2025 successor Jack Doohan could replace him for the Abu Dhabi GP.
Oakes confirmed discussions are underway but denied a decision has been finalized.
"There has been a discussion," Oakes told AFP, "but there is no definitive answer yet. It is obvious that he would like to be released earlier. I think it comes from all the parties."
He acknowledged that allowing Doohan to race in Abu Dhabi while Ocon transitions to Haas earlier - starting with a test immediately after next weekend's season finale - would be a "natural discussion" for all involved.
Meanwhile, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who manages Ocon's career, is believed to be negotiating directly with Alpine's executive advisor, Flavio Briatore, on the matter.
"First of all," Wolff said, "we have a contract under which we provide Alpine with the services of a driver, and this contract expires at the end of the year. That is the basis.
"It is better for Esteban's future to let him start with Haas sooner, and maybe it depends on whether he races in Abu Dhabi or not. We discussed this today and will continue the discussions tomorrow."
