Ocon recounts his most violent F1 crash – and shocking aftermath

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Esteban Ocon has opened up about a terrifying moment in his Formula 1 career, describing his crash in at the 2022 Miami Grand Prix as the most violent accident he has ever faced in his nearly nine years in the sport.

The Haas charger reflected on the incident during a conversation with French YouTube channel Legend, recounting the bone-rattling 42G impact and the alarming consequence that struck the following day.

During Ocon’s in-depth chat with interviewer Guillaume Pley, the topic turned to the physical demands of high-impact sports, prompted by a discussion about French rugby player Sebastien Chabal’s struggles with partial amnesia linked to concussions.

Ocon, no stranger to the dangers of F1, didn’t hesitate to share his own brush with disaster.

A Crash That Shook Body and Soul

“I’ve had some big crashes,” Ocon began. “Touch wood, those crashes have never been too violent, despite some of them exceeding 40G and nearly knocking me out. Sometimes my eyesight got blurry, or I had a headache for three, four days…”

However, the 2022 Miami accident stands out. Driving for Alpine at the time, Ocon lost control in Turn 13 and collided backward into a concrete wall.

“I took 42G – for people who want to see that crash, it’s not that impressive, but I hit a concrete wall,” he explained.

“That was in Miami, in FP3, in 2022. I went off, I hit the wall. I hit both my knees and could barely walk afterwards,” he recalled, describing how it took him over a minute and a half to extricate himself from the car.

A Disturbing Aftershock

Ocon walked away from the crash seemingly unscathed, although battered and bruised. But the aftermath of the incident wasn’t just physical pain.

The Frenchman revealed a shocking effect the following day:

“I remember, the next morning I was in the shower and I collapsed,” he recalled. “I lost my balance and fell, I was not well at all. But I managed, starting from last, to finish eighth in that race. I was peeing red, that was not great!”

Despite the ordeal, Ocon demonstrated resilience on race day. He was among four drivers to execute their only pit stop under a perfectly timed virtual, then full safety car period.

Prior to the safety car, he had an 11-second cushion on 14th-placed Lando Norris, who then collided with Pierre Gasly, triggering the race neutralisation.

Yet, Ocon’s reflections cast a shadow over that achievement, serving as a stark reminder of the physical
toll of the sport.

Even with years of experience and countless crashes, the risk of unexpected consequences remains ever-present for competitors in all categories of motorsport.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.