Esteban Ocon Departs Alpine Ahead of Abu Dhabi GP

Esteban Ocon's exit from Alpine was confirmed ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where he was replaced by rookie Jack Doohan for the season finale. Reports suggest Ocon faced pressure to accept an early termination of his contract, tied to his future at Haas for post-season testing. Ocon expressed disappointment over not being able to say a proper goodbye, thanking his team for the memories and achievements during his tenure, including significant podium finishes. Despite struggles in recent races, Ocon took pride in being part of Alpine's best results since its return to F1. He emphasized that he did not envision his departure happening this way, but remains optimistic about his future with Haas. The announcement follows Ocon's previous commitment to join Haas in 2025, solidifying a bittersweet end to his time with Alpine.