WATCH : Renault F1 Snub Esteban Ocon in Tense Post Race Team Radio Exchange
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Following a crazy race day at the ‘Temple of Speed in Monza, Italy – it has now been revealed why the young Renault driver, Esteban Ocon, expressed clear dissatisfaction over the team radio at the end of the race.
The Frenchman was apparently annoyed with the fact that he could not use his preferred set of medium compound tires because the team had not ‘warmed them up’.
As a result, he was sent out on the soft tires after the restart which, due to its very nature, started wearing off rapidly and forced Ocon to pit yet again.
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Although Ocon ultimately finished in 8th place, he made his feelings to the engineer and Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul particularly clear over the radio.
Ocon rues Renault pitstop strategy
He was heard as saying, “Yeah copy, I disagree. I think we missed out completely on this race. There was a massive opportunity”. Post a few more comments, Abiteboul almost immediately stepped in and declared, “Esteban, this is not the place”.
Ocon not at all happy with the team for missing what he describes as a "massive opportunity" today. Was told firmly to not to vent his feelings over team radio. #F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/EFrqsu9mFO
— Rob Watts (@robwattsf1) September 6, 2020
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In a subsequent conversation with the media, Ocon confirmed the issue with the tires stating that they were not warmed up enough. Ocon billed that as the reason behind the delay to get the set ready.
“It is a shame obviously that we pitted in those circumstances and those things happened, but our luck will turn around,” said Ocon in his closing statements.
Despite the difference of opinion as far as the team strategy and the missed opportunity was concerned, Renault had quite the field day by their standards, with both drivers finishing within the Top-10 and earning points.
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Ocon’s teammate Daniel Ricciardo managed to finish in 6th place. Following the restart, Ocon made his way up from 12th to 10th by going past Daniil Kvyat and Nicholas Latifi.
The Frenchman found his way to P9 after Hamilton entered the pit lane to serve his penalty. At the end stages of the race, Kimi Raikkonen dropped down to 13th, and that essentially saw Ocon hold his stead and finish in 8th place.
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