Having confirmed that Esteban Ocon will depart their driver line-up on the finish of the present season, Alpine has particular concepts concerning the type of alternative it’s now trying to recruit.
Ocon has lengthy been identified to not get on with Pierre Gasly, a lot in order that there was loads of shock when his fellow Frenchman was signed from AlphaTauri to hitch Ocon within the squad’s line-up in 2023.
Whereas there have not been any apparent public flare-ups between them, reviews of pressure behind the scenes have continued. A collision between the pair in Monaco got here simply days earlier than Ocon’s departure was introduced.
In such circumstances it could be completely comprehensible if Alpine went in search of somebody who will get on with Gasly simply to make sure a quiet life at Enstone subsequent 12 months, however staff boss Bruno Famin says that is not their technique.
“I feel the connection does not matter. The professionalism issues. We want skilled drivers,” Famin advised Sky Sports activities F1 within the paddock at Montreal final week.
“They should work collectively,” Famin continued. “It is a part of the job to have the ability to work together with his team-mate to get the very best for the staff.”
One of many main contenders for the seat is Australian driver Jack Doohan who has been working as Alpine’s reserve driver. He was even handed an FP1 spot rather than Ocon in Montreal though moist circumstances intervened.
Having taken a 12 months out of racing after ending third in final 12 months’s F2 championship, Doohan is present process a fast acclimation course in Alpine’s F1 vehicles suggesting he is being groomed for promotion in 2025.
However he is not the one one, with Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher additionally linked to the seat due to his position racing with Alpine’s endurance sportscar programme.
“I feel he is an possibility for positive,” stated Famin. “Jack is an possibility. We’re getting ready him. He was testing in [Austria] not very long time in the past, and sure – he has a fairly heavy testing programme. Let’s examine how he develops. He’s one chance amongst others, however he is one chance for positive.
Sauber duo Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have additionally been linked to the staff as they’re unlikely to remain at Hinwil as soon as Audi completes its take over of the squad.
Within the meantime, Famin additionally has to rigorously handle his relationship with the outgoing Ocon for the remaining time they’ve left in 2024.
Ocon stated that he’d talked to Famin for the reason that announcement that he can be leaving and insisted that their relationship remained stable.
I used to be on the manufacturing unit for regular preparation earlier than the weekend, and had a chat with Bruno. We have been simply speaking about loads of issues,” Ocon stated.
“There isn’t any awkward second, there isn’t a harm between {our relationships} altogether. Every part has been mentioned, and we transfer on, and we preserve racing to attempt to do the very best we are able to.”
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