Formula 1
Alpine prioritising "professionalism" in search for Ocon replacement
Alpine is prioritising "professionalism" in its search for Esteban Ocon's replacement at the French Formula 1 team, rather than simply unite two drivers with a good existing relationship.
Jake Boxall-Legge
Edited: Jun 17, 2024, 2:51 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Ocon and Alpine announced prior to the Canadian Grand Prix that they would part ways at the end of 2024, in the wake of his first-lap clash with team-mate Pierre Gasly at Monaco.
Although Ocon and Gasly have a well-publicised fractious relationship, the two vowed to work together for the good of the team when partnered together at the start of 2023.
However, they have both contributed to various flashpoints throughout their 18 months as team-mates, the clash at Monaco being one of them.
Team principal Bruno Famin is thus working on finding a replacement for Ocon, as the team is also looking to retain Gasly for 2025 despite suffering from a poor start to this season.
Speaking to Sky F1, Famin stated that his priority was not to find two drivers who already get along to avoid the Ocon/Gasly issues, but instead focus on signing "professional" drivers willing to work together.
"I think the relationship doesn't matter. The professionalism matters. We need professional drivers," Famin stated.
"They need to work together. It's part of the job to be able to work with his team-mate to get the best for the team."
Famin stated that reserve driver Jack Doohan was one of the drivers under consideration at the team; the Australian youngster was given an FP1 drive at Ocon's expense in Montreal, but the wet conditions hampered his running.
Bruno Famin, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Doohan has been undergoing a test programme in older Alpine machinery, having taken a year out of racing after finishing third in last year's F2 championship.
Sauber duo Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have also been linked to the team, as has Alpine World Endurance Championship driver and Mercedes F1 reserve Mick Schumacher - although the German is believed to be an outsider for the drive.
"I think he's an option, for sure. Jack is an option. We are preparing him. He was testing in [Austria] not long time ago and yeah, he has a quite heavy testing programme - and we're happy with that," Famin continued.
"Let's see how he develops. He is one possibility among others, but he's one possibility for sure.
Ocon explained that his relationship with Famin was not damaged by their decision to part ways, despite the ex-Peugeot chief's furious admonishment of Ocon's Monaco actions on Canal+.
"I talked with Bruno; I was at the factory for normal preparation before the weekend, and had a chat with Bruno. We were just talking about a lot of things," Ocon said.
"There's no awkward moment, there is no damage between our relationships altogether. Everything has been discussed, and we move on, and we keep racing to try and do the best we can."
Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Red Bull might not take Yuki Tsunoda seriously yet, but RB does
Next article FIA lowers F1 superlicence age, paving way for Antonelli debut
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jake Boxall-Legge
Isack Hadjar to make Red Bull return at F1 Azerbaijan GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Azerbaijan GP
Isack Hadjar to make Red Bull return at F1 Azerbaijan GP
More from
Alpine
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
2 h
Franco Colapinto, George Russell to sit out FP1 at F1 Mexico GP
“I couldn’t disappear” – Oliver Bearman rues “crazy” penalty for Pierre Gasly clash
Formula 1
Formula 1
United States GP
4 h
“I couldn’t disappear” – Oliver Bearman rues “crazy” penalty for Pierre Gasly clash
Latest news
Hamlin says Chevy teams 'suck at the teat' of Hendrick on superspeedways
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Talladega II
10 min
Hamlin says Chevy teams 'suck at the teat' of Hendrick on superspeedways
Valtteri Bottas denies he might lose his Cadillac seat for F1 2027
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
33 min
Valtteri Bottas denies he might lose his Cadillac seat for F1 2027
AJ Foyt Racing signs Josh Pierson to multi-year deal beginning with 2027 IndyCar season
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 1 h
AJ Foyt Racing signs Josh Pierson to multi-year deal beginning with 2027 IndyCar season
Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle named co-winners of Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup 1 h
Kyle Busch and Greg Biffle named co-winners of Comcast Community Champion of the Year Award
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe