Esteban Ocon's time with Alpine appears to have come to an earlier end than expected following his early retirement in the Qatar Grand Prix, reliable sources indicate.

The French driver was involved in a collision with Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg, which ended his race. Although Ocon was originally expected to finish the season at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, it now seems unlikely he will take part.

Ocon’s 5 years at Alpine have been a mix of highs and lows. He achieved a memorable win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix but had a difficult relationship with the team this year. A clash with Gasly in Monaco and ongoing struggles to match his teammate’s pace ultimately led to the decision for both sides to part ways earlier than planned. 

Tensions between Ocon and Alpine had been building, especially after his teammate Pierre Gasly showed much stronger performances in recent races. In Las Vegas, Gasly secured third on the grid, while Ocon struggled to match his pace, blaming everything on the car. This difference led Alpine to question whether Ocon should finish the season or if Jack Doohan, the team’s reserve driver, should take his place early.

Doohan is already set to join the team full-time in 2025, and giving him a chance to race in Abu Dhabi could help him gain experience. Meanwhile, Ocon is expected to be at the Abu Dhabi test after the race, as he begins his transition to Haas, where he will race from 2025.