Esteban Ocon Reveals £14 Million Car 'Gift' from Alpine After Shock

Esteban Ocon Reveals £14 Million Car ‘Gift’ from Alpine After Shock Departure

Former Alpine Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon has opened up about the unusual “parting gift” he received from his former team after being dropped at the end of the 2024 season — a full F1 chassis valued at approximately £14 million.

Ocon, who was replaced by reserve driver Jack Doohan for the final race of the 2024 season and the entire 2025 campaign, shared the details during an appearance on the Beyond the Grid podcast. The French driver clarified that the transfer of the car was not a gesture of goodwill but rather a contractual obligation.

“It’s not really a gift. It’s a bit more complicated, it was in the contract,” Ocon said. “So, they were forced to give it! It’s the actual chassis and it’s [the] complete car, it has an engine.”

The chassis in question is the A521, the very car Ocon used to claim his first — and so far only — Grand Prix victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. The dramatic race saw him fend off world-class competition including Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Sebastian Vettel in chaotic conditions, marking a career highlight.

The A521 now resides in Ocon’s personal garage at his home in France, although it’s not in running condition. Despite its complete appearance, Ocon explained that it’s missing critical components like batteries and certain control units, which make it impossible — and dangerous — to drive.

“I’ve thought about it already a thousand times on how to do, and there are a few things missing, like batteries, like some of the ECUs are not there,” he explained. “First, it’s dangerous, because a battery without people checking the voltage and stuff and keeping the battery level throughout all the cells is very dangerous. I’ve specifically asked not to have the batteries.”

According to recent figures from Motorsport Magazine, the cost of constructing a modern Formula 1 car is estimated to be around £14.6 million, making Ocon’s chassis an incredibly valuable — if somewhat non-functional — keepsake.

Ocon’s departure from Alpine came after a frosty end to their relationship, with performance struggles and internal tensions leading to the team choosing to promote young Australian driver Jack Doohan. Following his exit, Ocon found a new home at Haas for the 2025 season, partnering with rookie Oliver Bearman.

The move has proven to be fruitful so far. Haas has experienced an impressive start to the season, currently sitting fifth in the constructors’ standings with 20 points — a sharp contrast to Alpine’s underwhelming performance, as they languish in ninth with just six points to their name.

For Ocon, the switch has offered a new chapter and fresh momentum, even as Alpine continue to struggle post-breakup. And while he may not be able to drive his trophy A521, the memory of that magical day in Hungary lives on — now parked just steps from his front door.

Now 28 years old, Ocon is still chasing his next F1 victory, but with Haas showing signs of resurgence, that elusive second win may not be far off.