Alpine star Esteban Ocon has hit out at his critics after he was handed a penalty for crashing into team-mate Pierre Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Ocon had been trying to overtake Gasly with a move up the inside through Portier, but there was contact between the duo and the former's car bounced into the air before landing with a heavy impact ahead of the tunnel.
The damage was too significant for Ocon to continue, while Gasly was able to finish 10th. The Stewards found Ocon was "wholly to blame" for the incident, with the Frenchman handed a five-place grid penalty for the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix.
Team principal Bruno Famin insisted he would deal with any punishment behind closed doors. And Ocon has now taken aim at those who have criticised him in the aftermath of the crash.
"Much has been said in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix. While I have received many messages of support, I have been deeply saddened by the amount of abuse and negativity that I have received online regarding my character, my driving, and my career," he wrote in a statement on social media.
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"I have always been a tough competitor, and, like most drivers, I’ve had my share of incidents. As teammates, we would often start races very close to each other which in some cases meant some tough battles on track, and sometimes contact.
"Of course, I have made honest mistakes. We are not robots; we are athletes pushing ourselves to the limit every day to achieve our dreams of winning races. F1 is a sport where emotions run high, and passions run deep.
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Ocon crashed into Pierre Gasly, earning himself a five-place grid penalty for the next race (Sky Sports)"I see and feel this every weekend at the track and on social media… the good and the bad. But the misinformed statements and gross distortions that I have seen online in recent days about my ability to work with a team have been inaccurate, hurtful, and damaging."
Ocon insisted that he will continue to work closesly with Gasly for the rest of the season. While he took the blame for the crash, the Frenchman added that there is no 'reward without risk'.
"Since my first laps in motorsport, I have approached this sport with humility, professionalism, and respect. These values were instilled in me from a very young age," he continued.
"While each driver chases individual glory, this will always be a team sport first and foremost. I have always followed the instructions I have been given and raced to achieve the maximum for and with my team.
"I took responsibility for the incident on lap 1 last Sunday and, despite my DNF, I am glad the team added a point to the tally in what has been a difficult start to the season for all of us. I respect Pierre as a teammate and as a competitor.
"We have always worked collaboratively and professionally inside the team, and this will continue to be the case. There is no reward without risk in Formula One – and race starts are intense, even more so in Monaco where the opening lap can dictate your finishing result.
"In the end, we are all competitors and hard, fair racing throughout the field is what makes our sport so great and the main reason why I love this sport so much. I’m looking forward to competing in Montreal, in front of the fantastic Canadian fans, and to the exciting opportunities the future holds."
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