What happens when an athlete loses the support of his audience? That’s what Esteban Ocon has been finding out lately. The unrest in the Alpine team is palpable. Ocon has been the worst hit since the incident with his teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco. The sudden surge in criticism reached its pinnacle at the Spanish Grand Prix weekend. While appearing in the fan zone in Barcelona, Esteban Ocon faced loud booing from the fans.

The drivers and teams appear in the fan zone before the Grand Prix. Here fans can ask questions to their favorite drivers. The crowd let out a loud ‘boo’ when the Alpine team was announced in Barcelona. Especially when Ocon came to speak, the booing turned louder than his words. Organizers of the Spanish GP had to intervene to calm the audience immediately. They had to flash the following message on the screen behind them: “Please be respectful to all teams and guests, anti-social behavior will not be tolerated and may cause cancellation of interviews.”

This was not the first time Ocon faced so much criticism. In the immediate aftermath of his collision with teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco, he faced serious criticism from his naysayers. Even, team boss Bruno Famin held Ocon responsible for the incident. And as it seems, even his fans are turning away from him. Ocon had to share a social media post addressing the matter. Is Ocon deserving of so much criticism?

Does Esteban Ocon deserve the criticism he’s getting?

The incident in Barcelona this weekend is just one of the many stories of people criticizing Esteban. Critics and fans alike have labeled him with derogatory terms such as “arrogant brat” and “disrespectful,” often citing his behavior on and off the track.

During yesterday’s fanzone the crowd loudly booed when Alpine was announced, specifically when Esteban Ocon spoke, and the presenters had to put up this sign behind them
byu/PradaAndPunishment informula1

Sky Sports’ Naomi Schiff once said: “Amongst the drivers, he (Ocon) is not extremely popular and I think that’s because of his on-track behaviors. That helmet comes on and a demon comes out.”

Ocon, time and again, has shown his skills behind the steering. But his mistakes seem to undermine his positive qualities. Many experts have highlighted his kind demeanor and how he greets everyone politely. Yet, certain on-track incidents are affecting his career. The negative narrative against him is harming his public image. With his contract terminating with Alpine at the end of 2024, which team approaches him will be interesting to see.

Ocon’s on-track actions have contributed to the wave of negativity, but the insults directed at him seem disproportionately harsh. How long will this saga of discontent continue amongst the fans is unknown. What are your thoughts on Esteban Ocon? Let us know in the comments.