The 2024 Formula 1 driver’s market is still a prominent talking point in the paddock at this stage with teams slowly putting their plans into place for next year.
It means every session counts for the drivers who are out of contract and manufacturers would have been watching closely during the Monaco Grand Prix.
Martin Brundle was writing for Sky Sports F1 and suggested one driver who may have reached the highest level he’s going to on the grid.
The teams at the top end of the paddock are almost set for 2025, as McLaren and Ferrari have already locked in their line-ups and Red Bull are close to following suit.
Mercedes still have an available seat but Toto Wolff continues to dream of signing Max Verstappen but will fall back on youngster Andrea Kimi Antonelli if they can’t hire the triple-world champion.
However, Brundle now believes that Esteban Ocon has ruled himself out of ever being signed by a top Formula 1 team.
The Frenchman had a weekend to forget on his 141 outing in Formula 1 and his place on the grid might now be under threat.
READ MORE: Alpine driver Esteban Ocon’s life outside F1 from net worth to girlfriend
Martin Brundle thinks no top F1 team will ‘entertain’ signing Esteban Ocon
Unbeknownst to Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon, there was carnage behind them on the Monaco track on the opening lap of the race.
Sergio Perez had collided with both Haas drivers causing a massive amount of damage and blocking the track.
A red flag was imminent but moments before it was called, Ocon dived down the inside of his teammate but didn’t quite get the move right.
It sent the Frenchman flying into the air, doing enough damage to rule him out of taking the restart.
Team principal Bruno Famin was furious with his driver and while it may have been a coincidence that he was seen talking to reserve driver Jack Doohan, he did threaten that there were consequences for his actions that needed to be resolved before the Canadian Grand Prix.
Martin Brundle has assessed the incident and believes that Ocon’s previous behaviour is why no top team would consider hiring him.
There’s a reason why Toto Wolff isn’t considering him as a replacement for Lewis Hamilton and has instead offered him to another team on the grid.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Alpine F1 Team from team principal to lineage
Esteban Ocon faces uncertain Formula 1 future
Talking about the 27-year-old driver, Brundle said: “Ocon is a fine and fast racing driver, but history clearly demonstrates that he has an irrational red mist when it comes to racing, particularly against his team-mates.
“He has been heavily criticised before by Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso for his intra-team aggression and contact, and now Gasly too.
“It will cost Esteban heavily as no front-running team would entertain that kind of mentality, or even perhaps any team.
“A driver represents hundreds of hard-working and professional people, and hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and sponsorship when driving for an F1 team.
“You simply can’t keep attacking your one team-mate with abandon.”
Although as Brundle has suggested no top team will want to sign Ocon, he is being courted by several teams further down the grid.
While it looks less and less likely that Ocon will stay at Alpine, their rivals are monitoring him closely.
It’s been suggested that he could be announced as a driver for Haas for 2025 with Nico Hulkenberg joining Sauber.
He’s also one of the favourites to join Hulkenberg at Sauber ahead of Audi’s takeover depending on Carlos Sainz’s plans.
However, Ocon’s going to have to work his way up to the front of the grid with his erratic behaviour unlikely to make him a candidate for a championship-challenging team any time soon.
The post ‘Simply can’t’: Martin Brundle says no top F1 team would ‘entertain’ signing ‘irrational’ 141-race driver appeared first on F1 Oversteer.