Esteban Ocon will leave Alpine at the end of 2024, the Formula One team confirmed on Monday.
Ocon’s future with the team, which he joined under its previous guise Renault in 2020, has been in doubt for a while.
– Unlapped: How to listen or watch ESPN’s new F1 show, episode archive, and more
The decision to split with the driver brings a five year relationship to an end. Ocon delivered Alpine’s first F1 race victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
“It’s been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula 1,” Ocon said in a statement. “While I’ve been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me.
“We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times. I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.”
The French driver has been linked with Haas and the Audi project.
That situation gained even more coverage at the Monaco Grand Prix, where Ocon collided with teammate Pierre Gasly.
Alpine boss Bruno Famin was furious with the collision and there was speculation Ocon would be benched for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix, although Alpine has dismissed that suggestion since.
Ahead of that race, however, has come the news the two parties will split at the end of this season.
Ocon claimed Alpine’s only F1 victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, which remains his only victory in the sport too.