'Disruptive' Ocon warned over 'selfish' Gasly overtake

Esteban Ocon has been cautioned by ex-Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer for his “selfish” overtake attempt at the Monaco Grand Prix.

On the opening lap of the race, Ocon sought to move ahead of team-mate Pierre Gasly before making contact with his French compatriot.

Ocon was forced to retire from the race as a result while Gasly went on to score a 10th place result for the struggling Alpine outfit.

Ocon released a statement earlier this week, taking aim at the online abuse he has received in the week following the race event.

Writing in his column for F1.com, Palmer labelled the move as selfish as he highlighted the need for “mutual respect” between team-mates on the track.

“There’s no doubt that Ocon’s move was a selfish one that put himself first and disregarded the team effort,” he said.

“Both cars could have easily been out on the spot with his risky attempt and Alpine’s points chance could have gone up in smoke.

“Ocon also has to be careful, because he has a reputation as a driver who can be disruptive. For any driver your teammate is your greatest rival.

“They are the only person that has the same machinery as you, so there is nowhere to hide as far as performance goes – that’s why team mate comparisons are always so interesting. But you have to have mutual respect and work together as well for the good of the collective effort.”

Line-up change for 2025

Palmer drove for the Enstone-based squad in 2016 and 2017 when it ran under the Renault guise.

The Briton insisted that then-sporting director Alan Permane was stern with the drivers after close calls on the track.

“When I was at Renault alongside Kevin Magnussen, he put in a couple of wild lunges on me, but we thankfully never fully came to blows. 

“Alan Permane was the team’s sporting director at the time and he would have been quite the prospect to come back and explain yourself to – he’d tell you exactly what he thought, believe me!”

After the Monaco Grand Prix, Alpine team boss Bruno Famin insisted there would be “consequences” for the contact, leading to speculation that Ocon would be dropped from the team.

While Palmer does not see Ocon's immediate future to be in danger, the 33-year-old does not expect Alpine to enter 2025 with the same driver line-up.

“With Permane no longer at the Enstone-based team Bruno Famin has taken up that key roll of controlling his drivers and he was assertive with his criticism of Ocon,” Palmer said.

“Despite some rumours, I’m sure Esteban will be back in the car for Montreal, but a rap across the knuckles might have caught his attention.

“I’d be surprised if both drivers remain at Alpine for next year, but they have to get their heads down and continue to work in 2024 – not only to maximise the team’s constructors’ position, but also to show the outside world how good they can be.”