Esteban Ocon faces uncertainty over his F1 future putting pressure on him to perform consistently. Rumors suggest that Haas is willing to offer him a seat in 2025, but nothing has been official. Moreover, Esteban Ocon is receiving massive backlash from his fans – they aren’t supporting him anymore. “How long are we to overlook your mistakes?” they ask. Meanwhile, a blast from the past has recently resurfaced. What would have happened if Oscar Piastri had chosen to join Alpine? This question has been in the minds of many for a long time. Piastri’s talent behind the wheel would have attracted contracts from top teams like Ferrari. But that could have been trouble for Alpine favorite Esteban Ocon.

The Frenchman could’ve lost potential seats, had Oscar been his teammate, which is exactly what ex-Ferrari boss, Peter Windsor thinks. Esteban, despite being a talented driver is no match for Oscar Piastri in the present F1 scenario. Since his debut in F1, Piastri hasn’t given Ocon too many chances to outperform him. Moreover, comparing the machineries of both McLaren and Alpine; the former has the upper hand.

Esteban Ocon ‘saved’ from having Oscar Piastri as his teammate at Alpine

Peter Windsor raised a question at his recent YouTube live stream: “Would Oscar Piastri be better in another team?” he asked. Considering Piastri’s rumored move to Alpine, the ex-boss turned pundit admitted his thoughts. “It’s interesting to think what would have happened had he just done what he was announced to be doing,” Windsor noted. In other words, Alpine announced Piastri as their race driver alongside Esteban Ocon. Given Esteban Ocon’s track record, Piastri would’ve easily overpowered him, grappling the Alpine No.1 title off Ocon.

The pundit further claimed: “Had he done that, he would have been showing up Ocon. I think he [Piastri] would be on everybody’s list and maybe he would have gone to Ferrari instead of Lewis.” Continuing, “Maybe he would be going to Mercedes now, alongside Geroge Russell, if he was at Alpine.” Windsor indicates the vast opportunities, Alpine would’ve opened for Oscar Piastri. On the other hand, Esteban Ocon would be overshadowed by his young teammate’s spotlight. Although, a series of events followed Alpine’s Oscar Piastri announcement back in 2023; it was McLaren who had the last smile.

Despite using all their might, the French side failed to keep their reserve driver [Oscar Piastri]. Thus began his mighty journey with McLaren. This came as a ‘relief’ for Ocon, although shortlived. Soon within a year of Piastri’s F1 debut, Ocon found himself out of Alpine’s contract for the next season. So, whatever was being speculated back in 2022 for 2023, happened in 2024!

How did Oscar Piastri end up in McLaren?

When Alpine announced Oscar Piastri as their F1 driver for 2023, he was unaware of the decision despite being the reigning F2 champion. His unexpected move to McLaren followed a series of events. Sebastian Vettel’s exit from Aston Martin, which opened a seat for Fernando Alonso. Alonso seized the opportunity to leave Alpine in 2022. Concurrently, McLaren terminated Daniel Ricciardo‘s contract, creating another vacancy. Alpine’s premature announcement led Piastri to tweet his refusal to drive for them, shocking the F1 community.

With rumors of a contract with Piastri for 2023, it appeared that McLaren may have opted to swap one Australian for another. After the 2022 Belgian GP, the Contract Recognition Board met on a Monday morning. Sifted through McLaren and Alpine’s contract with Piastri. Thus giving a unanimous decision that brought Oscar to McLaren on a multi-year contract.

Lucky Esteban Ocon! He didn’t have the ever-fierce Piastri as his teammate. Otherwise who knows, maybe Pierre Gasly would’ve taken his seat to pair up with the Aussie. Moreover, Peter Windsor’s speculations highlight the delicate balance of talent and opportunity in F1. The aftermath saw Piastri thriving at McLaren and Ocon’s tenure with Alpine in jeopardy – an example of the unpredictable and ruthless landscape of Formula 1.