Haas boss Ayao Komatsu mentioned he was fully in the dead of night about the best way that Esteban Ocon’s first run for his workforce within the post-season Abu Dhabi check was used as leverage in opposition to the French driver.
The Japanese had agreed with Alpine workforce principal Oliver Oakes a number of weeks in the past to be allowed to pay money for Ocon for subsequent week’s tyre check on the Yas Marina circuit in a bid to present him a head begin for subsequent 12 months.
Nonetheless, it emerged finally weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix that Alpine laid down an ultimatum to Ocon within the hours earlier than the race that if he didn’t surrender his race seat for this weekend then he wouldn’t be launched for the check.
Following discussions between Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore and Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who nonetheless manages Ocon’s profession, a deal was reached for the Frenchman to step down, opening the best way for Jack Doohan to make his grand prix debut.
However whereas that meant there was a state of affairs that if Ocon refused to step apart then he could be pulled from the check, Komatsu mentioned that he had had no indication from Alpine that it was doubtlessly going to vary its thoughts about making its driver out there.
Having agreed with Alpine workforce principal Oakes at a latest F1 Fee assembly about getting maintain of Ocon, Komatsu mentioned he had had no indication that there might be a rethink.
“I spoke with Ollie in one of many F1 fee conferences…means earlier than I confirmed it,” defined Komatsu forward of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“[He said], it is okay, no drawback. You possibly can have Ocon driving the automobile. Then what ought to we do with the swimsuit? Ought to we simply do it in a white swimsuit? Yeah, that is the best, is not it? Then that was it.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Group
Picture by: Michael Potts / Motorsport Photographs
“I am fairly easy in that sense, that no matter goes on internally at Alpine has received nothing to do with me, proper? So for me, Ollie gave me his phrase, in order that was ok.”
Komatsu grew to become conscious after the Qatar GP concerning the potential change of circumstances however mentioned he would have anticipated Oakes to contact him if that was the case.
Requested if he knew concerning the check getting used as leverage by Alpine, Komatsu mentioned: “I do not know, actually. No matter occurs in Alpine, it is received nothing to do with me internally.
“So far as I am involved, final time I spoke to Ollie about this, Ollie was pleased that Esteban might drive for us within the post-season check, and he hasn’t mentioned something completely different ever since.
“So if one thing modified, then I count on him to come back to speak to me about it. However he hasn’t. So he gave me his phrase. That was ok for me.”
Komatsu mentioned that Ocon would formally turn into a Haas driver on Monday, forward of his first run on this 12 months’s automobile within the tyre check.
And whereas the best way Ocon’s Alpine profession ended has prompted some to counsel he might be additional fired as much as make issues work with Haas, Komatsu thinks there was by no means any doubt about his motivation.
“I feel he is all the time been actually motivated anyway,” he mentioned. “That is one of many massive explanation why I signed him. He is a extremely decided character and his work ethic is nice – no matter if the automobile is fast sufficient or gradual.
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“Like at the start of the season, when Alpine was completely nowhere, I feel he was nonetheless placing numerous effort in to encourage the workforce, to attempt to transfer the workforce ahead. I actually respect that. So I do not assume motivation has ever been his drawback.”
Requested if he was shocked that Alpine, which is locked in a decent struggle with Haas for sixth within the constructors’ championship, had put a rookie in for the ultimate spherical, Komatsu mentioned: “I would not [have done it] however then once more, no matter they do, it is received nothing to do with me.
“I am not right here to touch upon what they do. I am certain they’ve their very own causes. After which it isn’t my place to say something.”
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