Alpine has just announced that Esteban Ocon will leave the team at the end of this year’s Formula 1 season. When Pierre Gasly joined Alpine in 2023, people were skeptical about how things would turn out knowing that he would be partnering with Ocon, who has been with the team since 2020.

While Ocon is not known for being on good terms with his teammates, his relationship with Gasly is different. The two Frenchmen share a deep-rooted history that goes back to their karting days. They used to be good friends until their interpersonal competition heated up. Since then, it seems they’ve accepted that they will never be best buddies.

Although the news of Ocon’s departure came in the wake of his collision with Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix, that isn’t the only time the two came together, nor is that the main driving force. Despite all the negativity, Ocon still has credibility finishing on the podium twice, and winning the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix—all during his time with Alpine.

As of now, there’s no telling what lies in Esteban Ocon’s future. Given that the top teams appear to have their driver lineup decided, it’s not unlikely that Ocon could end up at Haas or Sauber (which will rebrand as Audi).

Do you think he still deserves a place in F1?