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Esteban Ocon Says Alpine Struggles Don’t Bring Any Joy: ‘You Never Smile’
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Highlights
- Esteban Ocon scored 22 points with Haas, double Alpine’s total
- Ocon denied enjoying Alpine’s struggles, focusing on his Haas career
- Ocon joined Haas for 2025, skipped 2024 Abu Dhabi race
- Alpine ranks last after six races; Haas sits sixth
- F1 season continues with Austrian, British, Belgian, Hungarian, Dutch GPs
- McLaren leads teams standings; Piastri leads drivers with 198 points
Alpine’s 2025 campaign has been tough. The team ran last in the constructors’ race after six Grands Prix and made a change by rotating between Jack Doohan and Franco Colapinto behind the wheel.
In contrast, Haas sits sixth, showing stronger consistency. Ocon, when pressed by media at the latest race weekend, reaffirmed his stance that he wanted a fresh challenge because he and Alpine no longer agreed on many goals.
Ocon, when pressed by media, reaffirmed that he wanted a fresh challenge after diverging goals with Alpine.
He pointed out that while Alpine has shown some pace, especially at Bahrain, Formula 1 is unpredictable and the season is long—suggesting things can change quickly for all teams.
Despite the sour end, Ocon still speaks warmly of his time at Alpine. He reflected on their shared achievements, especially his Grand Prix win, and said the earlier part of his stint remains a source of pride.
Ocon believes Alpine can recover from their slow start and warns not to count any team out.
Still, his focus is on Haas. He believes Alpine can recover from their slow start and reminded everyone not to count any team out, even if they lag in the standings now.
Recent F1 talking points have gone beyond Ocon’s story. The Canadian Grand Prix saw Red Bull’s protest against George Russell’s win rejected and featured a headline-making crash between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
In the wider paddock, Oscar Piastri has ruled out certain rivals for the title and Lando Norris has discussed the source of McLaren’s struggles. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have also traded comments after recent Ferrari performances, with Leclerc’s team facing hybrid issues.
Fans are watching closely as strategies evolve and drivers like Ocon adapt to new roles in hopes of improved results.
F1’s leaderboards after six rounds show McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris with 198 and 176 points respectively, ahead of Max Verstappen’s 155. Mercedes’ George Russell stands at 136, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at 104, and Lewis Hamilton with 79.
Among teams, McLaren leads with 374 points, Mercedes is second with 199, Ferrari holds 183, while Red Bull has 162. Williams and Haas round out the next spots with 55 and 28 points.
The world championship continues with key races ahead, including the Austrian Grand Prix at Red Bull Ring on June 29, followed by the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on July 6. The Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps takes place on July 27.
The Hungarian Grand Prix is scheduled for August 3, and the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort will be held on August 31. As teams reshuffle and drivers like Ocon settle into their new situations, anticipation for further twists in the season remains high.
John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.
* The featured image is not a real photograph — it was created using AI.
