Revealed: How Ferrari boss put up $1m to save Esteban Ocon's career
Esteban Ocon’s F1 career looks like it may have reached its conclusion, but it’s now been revealed that it might not have started at all but for a special intervention.
During a Sao Paulo GP press conference, Toto Wolff said that current Ferrari principal Frederic Vasseur made a crucial contribution on behalf of the Frenchman.
It comes in the wake of Ocon’s fallout with his now-former team Haas, having made a shock departure from the team last weekend in Mexico.
READ NEXT: New details of Esteban Ocon's team boss 'altercation' emerge with contract set to be terminated
How Frederic Vasseur revived Esteban Ocon’s F1 career
Esteban Ocon left the Haas team midway through the Mexico City GP weekend, after apparently falling out with the team over the tyre compounds he was permitted to use in practice.
Advert
He was firstly replaced by the team’s third driver Ryo Hirakawa for qualifying and the race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, before Rafael Camara - who had already been confirmed at Haas in place of Ocon for 2027 - took over for the rest of this year.
It was the latest controversy in what’s been an eventful Grand Prix career for Ocon, often having run-ins with former teams Force India and Alpine, as well as teammates Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly.
However, it might not have got started at all were it not for a gift from now-Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur.
At the Sao Paulo GP team principals’ press conference, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff - whose team also has a management company which looks after Ocon - said Vasseur helped the French driver at a crucial time in his career.
Ocon was riding high in the junior formulae when he won the GP3 title for Vasseur’s ART team in 2015, but then found his career lost momentum while languishing at the back of the German DTM touring car championship.
An opportunity then presented it at the backmarker Manor F1 team when Indonesian driver Rio Haryanto was dropped, with nine Grands Prix at the team up for grabs.
There was a catch: the team needed $2m (£1.49m) to pay for the seat.
The moment which saved Esteban Ocon's F1 hopes
“I don't know if that is actually known, when suddenly there appeared to be a free seat in Manor from Spa onwards - it needed $2 million,” said Wolff.
“We were saying we [Mercedes] can provide $1m for that seat, but we were missing $1m - and Fred put the money in personally to give Esteban the opportunity.
“And over all those years, I think we were all very supportive and very strong, and in trying to make sure that Esteban would have the best possible opportunity.”
However, Wolff said he understood the decision made by Haas boss Ayao Komatsu.
“I think at the end, it came to the point where Ayao needed to represent the team and protect the team from certain rhetoric, and on the other side, Esteban felt that personally that he wasn't wrong in the things he said.
“And you got to respect that [in] the end, the team calls the shots. The team principal needs to decide when it's enough, and that is what Ayao did.”
Meanwhile, Vasseur paid tribute to his protege now he finds himself at yet another career crossroads.
“For sure, it's a shame for Esteban because I think he's a pure competitor,” said Vasseur. “He put a lot of energy in all over the season[s] to be in F1, and [for] this we have we need to have a huge respect.”
Esteban Ocon’s Rollercoaster career
Manor: 2016
Thrown into the failing Manor team towards the back of 2016, he managed an impressive 12th in Brazil.
Force India/Racing Point: 2017-/2018
Had a brilliant 2017 season by finishing in the points in 18 of that year’s 20 races. However, the season was marred by accusing teammate Sergio Perez of trying to “kill me” on social media after the two clashed at Spa - not their only coming together.
Was moved on after two seasons when Lawrence Stroll bought the team and placed his son Lance there.
Renault/Alpine: 2020-2024
Five seasons brought his sole win via fortuitous strategy circumstances at the 2021 Hungarian GP, but Ocon would be outclassed by teammates Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly - as well as falling out with the latter two.
He was eventually moved on after one prang too many for Alpine’s liking.
Haas: 2025-2026
Was generally outpaced by young teammate Ollie Bearman, then found himself replaced by Rafael Camara for 2027 - his Mexico fallout with the team proceeding his eventual early exit.
James Elson
