Alpine insists Ocon is welcome for farewell factory visit

Alpine Formula 1 team principal Oliver Oakes has welcomed Esteban Ocon to return to the team’s Enstone base to say his goodbyes ahead of his move to Haas.

The Frenchman stood aside for Jack Doohan ahead of the final race of the season, with the move shrouded in controversy as sources revealed Ocon discovered the decision – which was explained as necessary to allow him to drive for Haas in the post-season Abu Dhabi test day – hours before the Qatar Grand Prix.

It emerged ahead of the Abu Dhabi season-finale that Ocon was taken by surprise given he had organised a special crash helmet for the race to say farewell to the team that offered him a second chance in F1 in 2020, when it was then under the Renault guise.

In a social media post, Ocon said: “To the hundreds of hard-working men and women at Enstone and Viry, I apologise that I will not be able come see you in person and have a proper farewell.

“As you know, the plan was always to race one last time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all next week. I was looking forward to both of those things.

“This is not how I wanted things to end.”

But playing down the issue of Ocon being unable to visit, Oakes said after the team secured sixth in the constructors’ standings at Yas Marina: “Esteban can have a guard of honour if he wants. He’s got to come by. I’m actually serious.

“Look, people say that [he was harshly treated], but I think it’s not really right. I think at the end of the day, he had an option. He chose to start with his new team earlier. That’s fine. I’m cool with that.

“We’ve been texting, and I’ve been honest, he’s welcome to come to Enstone, if you’d like, like everything was planned. I’ve also been really honest that he’s been a big part of the team, not just previous years, but even in my short stint.

“I have a lot of admiration for him, but I think also we have to do what’s right for us and getting Jack in the car earlier, it’s a big advantage when we look to next year.

“The teams we’re fighting have all got rookies who’ve had a bit of experience under their belt and for me, it may seem a little bit harsh, but really, that isn’t the reason at all.”