Alpine Focusing on Signing Professional Drivers Amid Ocon Departure
In the wake of Esteban Ocon’s departure from Alpine at the end of 2024, team principal Bruno Famin has emphasized the importance of signing “professional” drivers who can work together for the good of the team, despite any personal differences. This statement comes after Ocon’s first-lap clash with teammate Pierre Gasly at Monaco, which led to the announcement of their parting ways.
“I think the relationship doesn’t matter. The professionalism matters. We need professional drivers,” Famin said. “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 has been working on finding a replacement for Ocon, with reserve driver Jack Doohan being one of the top contenders for the seat. Doohan, who was given an FP1 drive at Ocon’s expense in Montreal, has been undergoing a test programme in older Alpine machinery. The Australian youngster finished third in last year’s F2 championship and has been impressing the team with his performance.
Other drivers linked to the team include Sauber duo Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu, as well as Alpine World Endurance Championship driver and Mercedes F1 reserve Mick Schumacher. However, Schumacher is believed to be an outsider for the drive.
Famin is keen on signing a driver who can work well with Gasly, despite their fractious relationship. “Let’s see how [Doohan] develops. He is one possibility among others, but he’s one possibility for sure,” Famin said.
Meanwhile, Ocon has denied that his relationship with Famin has been damaged by their decision to part ways. “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.”
As Alpine continues to search for Ocon’s replacement, fans will be keeping a close eye on the team’s developments in the coming months. With the Formula 1 standings still up for grabs, Alpine will be looking to make a strong comeback in the second half of the season. The Formula 1 calendar may have already passed the halfway mark, but there’s still plenty of action to come.
🔗 Source