Ocon lashes out at stewards after incident with Hamilton

Esteban Ocon crossed the finish line in ninth place in the Monaco Grand Prix, but because of a five-second time penalty he fell back to twelfth. The Alpine driver is extremely disappointed and blames the stewards. According to him, it makes no sense that he was penalized in the narrow streets of the principality.

During the Grand Prix it was already clear that Ocon would have five seconds added to his race time. When, after crossing the finish line, he was told by his team over the board radio that he had to hand in his two World Championship points, he said: "They can’t take the result away like that. T“This is favouritism. Crash into me or get the penalty, what is this – we can’t see in the mirrors here!”

Ocon not happy with stewards

On lap eighteen, there was brief contact between Ocon and Lewis Hamilton at Sainte Devote. The Mercedes driver went for the inside after the straight, but Ocon defended. In the square, he explained to Motorsport Magazine just after the race that he was still driving well ahead of his opponent and therefore did not give way.

"They said that if it was last year, it would have been a racing incident. This year it is not a racing incident. Apparently we all agreed as GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association) that as soon as there is a front wing next to a tyre, there should be space. But I don’t remember when this has been agreed," Ocon said.

Alonso also 'guilty'

Remarkably, teammate Fernando Alonso was also one of the reasons for the 25-year-old falling outside the points. For more than fifteen laps, the two-time world champion drove incredibly slowly, creating a train. All of Ocon's drivers were able to connect and eventually finished within five seconds of the Frenchman.