Esteban Ocon signs new three-year F1 deal with Alpine

Esteban Ocon’s Formula 1 future has been confirmed with the Frenchman signing an extension on his deal to stay at Alpine until the 2024 season.

The 24-year-old joined the Renault team in 2020 after a year away from racing and serving as Mercedes F1 reserve. He scored his best career finish last year with Renault at the Sakhir Grand Prix, finishing in second place on a chaotic night in Bahrain.

This season, Ocon has so far had the measure of two-time world champion team-mate Fernando Alonso and finished in the points at four of the six races this season.

“I’m delighted to continue with the team beyond this year and it’s a fantastic feeling to secure my future with Alpine,” Ocon said of the announcement.

“We’ve been progressing well together since I joined the team and I aim to continue that journey going forward. There are great challenges ahead of us, especially with the new regulations in 2022. I’m sure we can hit our targets by working hard together and continuing the story.

“I often think back to the Sakhir Grand Prix last year with the podium, and it motivates me to create more special memories like that. I’m really looking forward to the next chapter but, for now, we’re very much focused on this season and taking each race as it comes.”

Ocon had been linked with a possible call-up to Mercedes in place of Valtteri Bottas with Toto Wolff still managing the Frenchman. The 2021 season had been tipped as a hugely important one for Ocon with questions arising over his F1 future. Pierre Gasly had also been linked with a seat at Alpine, possibly in place of Ocon.

The team said that his consistency and maturity has grown since joining the team and that due to his knowledge of the car and development path, a contract extension made the most sense.

“We are very proud to retain Esteban as part of the Alpine family. Since returning to the team in 2020, Esteban has grown in confidence and stature to deliver consistently good results and help develop the car with the team,” Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi said.

“Despite his young age, he is very experienced in Formula 1 and he’s on a positive trajectory in both his maturity and ability behind the wheel. He is a strong asset for us now, and also going forward as we meet the challenge of the new regulations.

“We have every confidence in Esteban to help drive the team and the brand to the next level and meet its long-term objectives. Esteban is an asset for us beyond F1 as he is deeply involved in the Alpine global project. Thanks to his personality and values, Esteban is naturally a perfect ambassador of Alpine.

“For now, we look forward to continuing the 2021 campaign at our home Grand Prix in France and doing the best possible job at every remaining race weekend.”