An “illogical” penalty difficult to swallow for Esteban Ocon in Monaco
Frenchman Esteban Ocon is having a hard time digesting the five-second penalty that the FIA imposed on him this Sunday after the arrival of the Monaco Grand Prix due to contact with Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes in the race.
On the 18th lap of the race this Sunday in Monaco, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton tried to overtake Esteban Ocon’s Alpine at the first corner before the climb in Ostend, but when the Briton had not yet completely passed the ‘Alpine d’Ocon, the Frenchman wanted to take the rope and a contact between the two single-seaters took place. Placed under investigation by race management, Esteban Ocon was deemed responsible for this contact and received a five-second penalty on his final time. Ninth at the checkered flag, the Norman finally finished the Monaco Grand Prix in twelfth place out of the points once the bad one applied.
“The result is hard to swallow and I am frustrated to leave Monaco without scoring a point. I don’t think I deserve a claim for the incident with Lewis [Hamilton]. » we explain Ocon this Sunday evening in Monaco.
“From the seat, I have the feeling that this is a racing incident, especially on a circuit like Monaco where any attempt to overtake is likely to lead to slight contact. The team worked throughout the weekend, especially between Friday and Saturday to find areas for improvement, but we left without this double ration of points, however deserved. We have to move forward now and I intend to straighten out the blow in Baku (next round). »
Sent to the microphone of our colleagues from Canal +, Ocon explained that he had gone to the commissioners’ office with his team – after reviewing the images of this incident – in order to try to understand why he had been penalized: “I reviewed the images, we went to see the commissioners to try to get an explanation because it is illogical” said the Alpine driver.
” That does not make any sense ! They told us there was a new rule in place, that when there was a car inside [celle d’Hamilton dans ce cas précis], if it hit, it was the one who was being attacked who applied for the defeat. Last year it would have been a racing incident, they said that’s changed, but they weren’t happy with the rules either, so I honestly don’t understand. It completely ruins the weekend and we could have stayed home this weekend. »
🗨️ “It ruins the weekend. We could have stayed home.”
Esteban Ocon quite annoyed by the sensitivity received after his contact with Hamilton 😤#MonacoGP 🇲🇨 #F1
▶️ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/wGVzth1QZb
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