Only two rookies scored points in this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, after a difficult race for most of the drivers.
The race was partially overshadowed by the new rules introduced specifically for Monaco, which stipulated that teams must make at least two pit stops.
Jenson Button felt most teams made a ‘mockery’ of the rule, after they effectively used both cars to generate a gap big enough to pit one driver without losing places.
Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who finished in seventh place, felt that one rookie “deserved more” after sending him a message on Instagram following the Monaco GP.
Esteban Ocon sends message to Oliver Bearman after Monaco GP
One of the drivers who only just missed out on points was Oliver Bearman, who finished in P12 after starting the race in P19 following a grid penalty.
Bearman made use of the mandated two-stop strategy by pitting on the opening lap, then serving his final pit stop later on in the race while everyone else still had two stops to run.
“P12 in Monaco. Happy with the performance, even if we didn’t get the result to match it, we got the maximum we could with the grid pen, I think. Congratulations, Esteban & the team on the points!,” said Bearman.
But with drivers backing off to create gaps, Haas’ plan to score points with Bearman was foiled as it effectively put him out of contention. Ocon felt his teammate should’ve been rewarded for his impressive strategy that saw him climb eight spots in the race.
“Thank you very much, buddy! Your time will come, you deserved much, much more this weekend,” commented Ocon.
READ MORE: Who is 2025 Haas driver Oliver Bearman? Everything to know
F1 legend sends one-word message to Esteban Ocon after points finish in Monaco GP
Ocon finished in P7 ahead of Liam Lawson and both Williams drivers, having mimicked the strategy done by Isack Hadjar ahead of him.
It was a much better race for the Frenchman compared to last year, when he collided with Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly on the opening lap.
His performance earned him kudos from former F1 driver Jean Alesi, who commented on Instagram: “Bravo.”
Monaco was Ocon’s third points scoring race of the season, having achieved the feat in the Chinese and Bahrain Grands Prix earlier in the season.
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