Alpine have been roasted on social media for giving Brad Pitt a glitzy send-off in Abu Dhabi after appearing to make light of Esteban Ocon‘s departure.

Ocon has spent the past five years with Alpine, notching an unexpected Grand Prix win in 2021 and making the podium on three other occasions. But after agreeing to drive for Haas next year, he was unceremoniously dropped for the final race of this season and replaced by Jack Doohan.

A brief social media statement was all Ocon got from the team, which was brought back into the spotlight on Thursday, when Alpine made a big fuss of Pitt leaving the paddock and posed for a big group photo with the Hollywood actor.

The 60-year-old has been on and around the grid for the past 18 months, filming sports action drama ‘F1’ which is due to be released next summer. Pitt plays the character Sonny Hayes and mega money has been thrown at the movie to make it a success.

He also got in on the Ferrari team photo at Yas Marina, along with co-star Damson Idris, after appearing at various races for filming earlier this season, including in Mexico City and at Silverstone.

Some F1 fans were fuming at Alpine’s willingness to have a proper get-together for Pitt’s farewell after dropping Ocon like a stone.

On X, @NotFifthGear wrote: “Alpine gave ‘Sonny Hayes’ a better farewell than their only race winner in F1…”. Meanwhile @rosbergcore added: “Can say goodbye to Brad Pitt but not the driver that gave you your last win?”

Others were also irked, with @laeberkas posting: “You guys suck really bad. Like you literally gave him a better farewell than Ocon.” Elsewhere @HoodieUce chimed in: “Listen it’s no secret I’m not Esteban’s biggest fan but it’s not great optics for you to give a farewell to an actor and not the guy who spent five seasons at the team.”

Ocon was downbeat about the way his exit was handled, but the Frenchman, 28, will soon be back behind the wheel with his new team, Haas, at a post-season test in Abu Dhabi.

“The plan was always to race one last time this weekend and personally say goodbye to you all [Alpine staff] next week,” he wrote. “I was looking forward to both of those things. This is not how I wanted things to end. That said, the world of F1 is small and I am sure I will see many of you again soon.”