In recent days the pilot market has started to be talked about again. We are now close to the summer break and there are still many pilots looking for a seat for 2025. One of these is Stephen Ocon, and last June 3 he announced the separation with Alpine. The French team has not yet announced the name of the driver who will join Pierre Gasly in 2025 although Jack Doohan remains the most probable name. But this does not seem to be the only concern for the Enstone team. According to what Roberto Chinchero reports on Motorsport.com Alpine would also have exposed itself in the choice of Ocon's future team, preventing the Frenchman from making agreements with Williams starting from the current season.
Alpine blocks the deal, preventing Ocon from joining Williams
The Grove team has never hidden its interest in Esteban Ocon as an alternative to Logan Sargeant, even in the short term. At Silverstone, discussions between the two sides seem to have become more serious two weeks ago. At least for the moment, however, Williams will have to give up the Albon-Ocon pairing. The motivation is linked to the Frenchman's current team, theAlpine and she would have gotten in the way preventing Ocon from joining a rival team.
Williams is in fact only 5 points away from Alpine in the Championship, which wants to finish above the rival team at all costs. Each placing in the ranking is equivalent to a different prize, so even the difference between a ninth and an eighth place becomes important. Ocon, according to the latest rumors in the paddock, had also tested the driving position of the FW46. However, giving Ocon to the opposition by dumping on Doohan for this second phase of the season, despite the broken relationships between Ocon and the rest of the team, was not a viable option for Famin.
If Williams therefore wants to replace Sargeant, it will have to do so with a driver other than Ocon who is increasingly moving closer to the American team, Haas. The team recently made Kevin's departure official Magnussen, and is ready to welcome Ocon for the 2025 season.
