Haas as a team "healthier": Ocon takes another shot at Alpine

(Motorsport-Total.com) - Just a few months after joining Haas, Esteban Ocon draws his first interim conclusions, highlighting the positive atmosphere at the American racing team. The Frenchman sees significant differences from his former team, Alpine, where he repeatedly struggled with internal tensions in the past.

"The communication here is very direct, and that makes things a lot easier," Ocon told Motorsport.com Global , the English-language sister publication of Motorsport-Total.com on the Motorsport Network, about his first partial season at Haas. "You always know where you stand, and that provides a clear structure. That wasn't always a given at my previous teams. Compared to previous experiences, it's a healthier atmosphere."

During his time at Alpine, there had been repeated disputes—whether between drivers, within management, or due to last-minute personnel decisions. "It took them a month to provide a steering wheel with two clutch levers," the Frenchman complains.

Ocon himself was involved in several of these situations, including heated duels with teammate Pierre Gasly - culminating in the collision at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix , which ultimately sealed his departure from the Renault Group.

Since then, he has repeatedly and openly criticized Alpine. He described the team as "not good enough" in Hungary in 2024, felt disadvantaged compared to Gasly in the second half of the season, and lambasted the team's treatment of Jack Doohan at the start of the 2025 season.

The frustration may also be due to the internal company struggles surrounding the future of the engine plant in Viry-Chatillon, which he witnessed firsthand. Strikes and public protests repeatedly diverted the focus from the sporting aspect.

Fast processes impress Ocon

At Haas, he's now experiencing a different way of working. "Of course, Haas is smaller and more compact, but that's precisely an advantage. Decisions are made more quickly, and things can be implemented at short notice. I have the impression that everyone here is pulling together."

"If we do something wrong, we talk about it and hope it doesn't happen again. And we talk about it immediately after the race. And that's a good thing, because if you don't talk about it—which is what I experienced in the past—you do it all over again."

Things are also going well on the sporting front. After a poor start to the 2025 season in Melbourne, where the team was far from the back of the field, a quickly implemented update package in Suzuka led to a significant improvement: "That was impressive: We reacted in a very short time and delivered a car that was immediately more competitive. This momentum motivates the entire team."

Ocon describes his collaboration with team principal Ayao Komatsu as "open and respectful." He emphasizes that Haas drivers are closely involved in development processes. "They listen to our feedback and discuss details. That makes me feel like I'm truly part of the project," Ocon says.

Despite all the positive impressions, Ocon remains realistic about his goals for the season. Points are still not a given, but the foundation for continuous development is there. "We have to work hard, but if we maintain this team spirit, we can also compete against bigger teams."