A Formula 1 driver who was dropped by his team was reportedly caught visiting a rival during the 2024 season.
The 2025 campaign promises to be a classic with reigning champion Max Verstappen looking to win his fifth successive title.
However, the likes of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be looking to challenge the Dutchman.
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Ahead of the new season, there have been several major changes made to the drivers' lineup.
For example, Hamilton has swapped Mercedes for Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz leaving the Scuderia for Williams.
Meanwhile, Sergio Perez was replaced by Liam Lawson at Red Bull Racing.
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Six F1 rookies in the shapes of Lawson, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Jack Doohan, Oliver Bearman, Gabriel Bortoleto and Isack Hadjar are set to get a taste of their first full season in the pinnacle of motorsports.
Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who left Alpine for Haas, was reportedly tracked by his former team during the 2024 season.
As reported by Planet F1, Former Alpine chief Marcin Budkowski claimed that everyone in the team found out Ocon visited the Williams factory due to the GPS on his company car.
Budkowski was quoted telling Viaplay Poland: "He was in Enstone before the Silverstone race and when he’s there, he drives an Alpine that was lent to him as a company car.
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"But these cars have trackers, the GPS. So it turned out that his Alpine car was parked in Williams’ parking lot for five hours during Esteban’s stay in Great Britain, and this is how everyone at Alpine found out that Esteban spent half a day there."
He added: "I don’t think [he was aware]. But let’s face it, the team didn’t extend his contract so Esteban can talk to the other teams. It’s just a funny situation that it got out like that."
When asked about Ocon's visit, Williams team boss James Vowles admitted: "Esteban came in for, not a real seat fit, but I wanted to evaluate him for 2025 and 2026.
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"I needed to do that because I need to actually ascertain whether he fit in the car or not. Because he’s, as is Alex, a tall chap, but his dimensions are a bit difficult in certain dimensions. Everything we are doing at the moment is - just to clarify that one - for '25 and beyond on drivers, nothing else."
In June 2024, it was confirmed that Ocon would not be racing for Alpine in 2025, with Australian rookie Doohan replacing him.
The 2025 F1 season will begin in March with the Australian Grand Prix, which will be held around Albert Park in Melbourne on March 16.
Topics: Formula 1, Haas F1 Team
Marcus Chan