Alpine boss 'right to be upset' after 'very bad thing'

Alpine team principal Bruno Famin has defended the anger he displayed in the wake of Esteban Ocon's Monaco Grand Prix crash and his decision to part ways with the Frenchman at the end of the season.

Famin was interviewed shortly after Ocon had collided with team-mate Pierre Gasly as he attempted a foolish overtake through Portier on the opening lap of the recent race around the principality.

Famin's anger was clearly visible, threatening Ocon with "consequences" following his failure to obey clear pre-race instructions not to attack Gasly in the opening exchanges.

Earlier this week, but apparently not as a direct consequence of that incident, Alpine confirmed Ocon will be leaving the team after five years when the season concludes in Abu Dhabi in December.

"I was quite right to be upset because for the team it was very bad," said Famin, speaking to Sky Sports F1. "Without the red flag, Pierre would have been last because he would have had to have stopped for the puncture, and he would have finished the race last. It was a very bad thing."

Famin has stated the pre-race instructions were made clear to all at the same time. He added: "I never speak to the drivers one to one for this kind of thing.

"When there are race instructions we all speak together to make sure everybody has the same information, that everybody listens to the same information at the same time.

"The instructions were clear before the race in Monaco, like it was clear before the previous race."

Famin is adamant, though, that despite speculation he was going to axe Ocon for the Canadian Grand Prix, that was not under consideration. The Frenchman did, however, make way in FP1 for Jack Doohan.

Famin added: "It was never a point. We're professional. Even if something bad happens, we talk, we discuss, we do what we need to do for improving the situation for the coming race but benching him for a race it was never a point."

The fact Ocon has been shown the door was always a possibility, even before the incident in Monaco. Famin feels the partnership had run its natural course.

"With Esteban, I've said it several times before, we have been talking for months," said Famin. "It was quite clear that we were coming to the end of the cycle [with him].

"He has been with us for five years. He's still here until the end of the season, 16 races to go, and I'm sure we will still do very good work together. I trust his professionalism and we will do our best all together to get the best possible result."

Famin has indicated, though, the priority requirement from his next driver pairing, with reserve Jack Doohan in line to team up with Gasly.

"The relationship does not matter, the professionalism matters," he said. "We need professional drivers. They need to work together. It's part of the job to be able to work with your team-mate, to do the best for the team."