Esteban Ocon's recent performance at the Monaco GP might have put his entire Formula 1 career at risk, as per insights from two ex-grand prix racers.
The Alpine team leader, Bruno Famin, furious over Ocon's disobedience of team orders and his first-lap collision with teammate Pierre Gasly, is reportedly considering benching the 27-year-old French driver for the forthcoming Canadian GP.
Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu revealed in Monaco that he has been discussing a potential 2025 team move for Ocon. However, seasoned British commentator Martin Brundle believes Sunday's events in Monaco may have severely damaged Ocon's prospects of joining "any team."
"He has been heavily criticised before by Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso for his intra-team aggression and contact, and now Gasly too," he mentioned on Sky UK.
"It will cost Esteban heavily as no front running team would entertain that kind of mentality, or even perhaps any team.
"A driver represents hundreds of hard working and professional people, and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and sponsorship when driving for an F1 team. You simply can't keep attacking your one team-mate with abandon," Brundle continued.
Echoing similar sentiments, fellow former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde remarked that Ocon's disposition likely excludes him from consideration for the 2025 Mercedes seat, despite being managed by Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff.
"He has clearly shown that he does not belong there," van der Garde stated on his podcast DRS De Race Show.
"He's fast, but he's a nasty guy. Do you remember what he did to Max (Verstappen) in Brazil (2018)? He is not a team player and he can be a nasty guy at times. If that goes away, he can become a great driver."
Van der Garde anticipates that a race suspension for Ocon in Montreal would be "painful" for the viability of his F1 career.
"To be honest, he really screwed up," he commented. "Imagine being in a pre-race briefing, everyone's discussing the strategy, figuring out what is important. They say 'Ok guys, we're tenth and eleventh. Please let's make sure we score points today, because we really need them. So whoever is ahead after qualifying has priority. Make sure you provide backup.'
"But Ocon thinks 'Yes, there's a gap' and he sticks his car in there. It's so stupid. When you're in a bad situation, you have to work together."
Nonetheless, van der Garde doesn't believe Alpine will sideline Ocon for Canada.
"Personally, I think they'll let him drive and he'll get a reprimand," he predicted. body check tags ::
