Briatore justifies decision to drop 'completely demotivated' Ocon
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Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore says the team's decision to part ways with Esteban Ocon was justified by the French driver's lack of motivation and a widening performance gap with teammate Pierre Gasly.
Ocon, who had been with Alpine since 2020, was replaced by rookie Jack Doohan for F1's season finale in Abu Dhabi, a move the Haas-bound driver lamented as it deprived him of an opportunity to bid farewell to his crews.
Speaking in an interview with French daily Le Parisien, Briatore admitted that while Ocon had delivered a remarkable podium finish in Brazil, his motivation had significantly dropped in the final races of the season.
"I see things differently from the general public regarding Esteban Ocon," Briatore began. "We really need to thank him for what he did in Brazil with that podium.
"But after that race, he had his mind on his new team, Haas. And we were fighting for sixth place in the Constructors' Championship against them."
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Briatore went on to explain that Ocon appeared "completely demotivated" in the later part of the season, with a noticeable performance gap developing between him and Gasly.
"I saw him in the last few races completely demotivated, with too big a gap between him and Pierre," Briatore said.
A New Direction for Alpine
Briatore made it clear that the decision to replace Ocon was not personal, but rather a strategic move to ensure the team's future success.
"At the same time, I wanted to try out what I had in mind for the future," he explained. "It's not that I had a problem with Esteban or that I preferred Jack. I don't look at nationality – whether someone is Turkish, French, or Japanese... I just have to look for the best driver."
The decision to promote Doohan to a full-time race seat in 2025 reflects Briatore's desire to build a strong driver pairing for the team's future ambitions.
However, there had been rumors suggesting Alpine might also be considering Franco Colapinto for the seat.
When asked if Gasly and Doohan were "sure" to start the first race of 2025, Briatore responded with a touch of humor.
"The only thing that is sure is death. We will start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee you that. After that, we'll see during the season."
Results Over Emotion in F1
Briatore emphasized the importance of performance and results in F1, making it clear that decisions are based on results, not emotions.
"I have to get the team in shape to achieve results," he said. "And the driver is the one who has to finish the job for the nearly 1000 people behind him.
"Everyone works for just two people. If there's a driver who isn't progressing and isn't delivering results, I'll change him. You can't be emotional in F1," Briatore stated.
The Italian was extremely praiseful of Gasly's efforts during the 2024 season.
"Pierre did an extraordinary job. He surprised me a lot this year. He's really our driver," he said.
"I truly thank him. He completely changed his attitude this season. He never had any accidents. If we managed to finish sixth, it's thanks to him.
"I'm sure Pierre will continue his great work, and Jack Doohan will live up to expectations."
For Alpine, the decision to part ways with Ocon marks the beginning of a new era – one that Briatore believes is crucial to achieving the team's goals of continued improvement and, ultimately, a championship challenge.
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