Report: “Ocon escaped Alpine’s ban for fear of lawsuit”

Esteban Ocon will leave Alpine at the end of the season, but will not be on the bench for the Canadian Grand Prix, contrary to rumours following his collision with teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco.

However, a report has emerged that team boss Bruno Famin wanted the driver, whose retirement has now been confirmed, to sit out the race in Montreal.

According to France’s largest sports newspaper The teamFamin had intended to suspend Ocon, but his angry outburst on television immediately after the incident sparked initial speculation after he threatened “consequences” for Ocon’s behaviour.

However, following an online reaction, the former race winner took to social media to address the abuse and confirmed that he would compete at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

This post came on Friday. On Monday his impending departure from the French team was confirmed, his next move has yet to be announced.

As reported by The teamFamin’s request to ban Ocon from the race required approval from the team’s lawyers, but Alpine’s legal department rejected his request, fearing it could lead to action from the Ocon camp based on his “right to work”.

Ocon was demoted five places on the grid for the Canadian Grand Prix for causing the accident with Gasly, and it is not unusual for a driver to sit out a race to avoid a penalty in F1.

In 2002, Sauber’s Felipe Massa was disqualified from the United States Grand Prix after receiving a ten-place grid penalty at the previous race in Italy.

The Swiss team attempted to circumvent the sanctions and took Heinz-Harald Frentzen’s place. The Brazilian driver returned to his seat for the following Japanese Grand Prix, but was withdrawn from the race for the 2003 season and replaced by the German.

However, it is believed that Famin wanted to serve the ban as punishment for Ocon, which would have proven to be a more controversial move.