Esteban Ocon is choosing to remain cautious in his comments about Alpine's obvious decline in Formula 1, noting that he doesn't want to "make headlines" with his true thoughts on the matter.
The French driver, who is set to join the American team Haas for 2025 and beyond, acknowledged the disappointment in how his career with Renault's works team is ending, as well as the termination of the marque's F1 engine program.
"It's sad," Ocon admitted.
His sole F1 victory came with Alpine in 2021, but since then, both his relationship with the team and its overall performance have steadily declined. "There are many reasons for the downturn," he told Auto Motor und Sport.
When asked to elaborate, Ocon chose to remain discreet, saying, "I have a few explanations, but I prefer to keep them to myself. I don't want to make headlines here."
While his collision with teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco infuriated Alpine management, Ocon insists his departure was not solely due to that incident. "It was already clear to me before that," he said. "We had already had discussions with other teams. This even started during the 2023 season.
"Of course, you are always open to anything, but for me, it was relatively clear that I was looking for a new challenge."
Ocon reportedly considered Audi for 2025, but no agreement was reached. "I don't want to go into detail about that," he stated. "We talked to several teams. In the end, what convinced me the most was that Ayao (Komatsu) is leading the (Haas) team.
"He is a seasoned race engineer who knows what he is talking about. Haas currently employs 300 people," Ocon continued, "but they achieve more than teams with 1500 people. And there are big investments in the future that will affect performance. The team has clear goals, and I want to be part of that.
"I have already been to the factory and seen the passion with which everyone works there. I've missed that feeling," he admitted.
Some might think Ocon regrets his long stint with Renault and Alpine, especially as he beat Max Verstappen to the F3 title in 2014. However, he remains optimistic, saying, "You must not give up hope.
"Drivers like Jenson (Button) show that there can suddenly be a chance if you work hard and keep improving. Last year I fought on equal terms with the McLarens in many races, and now they are fighting for the championship. Anything can happen."
Despite facing a reputation for being difficult, Ocon challenges this perception, recounting a personal experience: "I think people have the wrong image of me. After an event, I once spoke to a young journalist for five minutes, and afterwards he said to me, 'You know, Esteban, I didn't really like you before, but after our conversation, I really like you.' I found that very interesting.
"People out there can get an image of you that doesn't correspond to reality at all."
Regarding his clashes with teammates over the years, Ocon maintains that no team he has raced for "has lost places in the championship because of it."
However, dealing with the struggles at Alpine this year "hasn't been fun."
"When I signed in 2020, I had high expectations. There were also big promises. But they didn't become reality in the five years," he said. "It's not easy for a driver when you put so much into it and then suddenly find yourself at the back."
Upon realizing that the 2024 car would not be competitive, Ocon said he "made the decision" to explore other options "early on." Reflecting on the situation, he added, "It's really sad to see where we are now.
"Alpine comes from Normandy, like me. I was always proud to wear the Renault logo. It's really sad to see where we are now. The brand deserves more.
"We give everything, but it's not enough. Five years with one team is a long time in Formula 1. We had good and bad moments. It was simply time to try somewhere else."
