F1 Rumour: Gasly And Ocon Want To Leave Alpine After Season Of Firings And Chaos
Alpine's team dynamics have been tumultuous, with internal firings and chaos affecting performance. Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, key drivers for the team, are reportedly seeking exits due to dissatisfaction, aligning with the recent upheavals within the team. Alpine's 2023 season was marked by inconsistent performances, with the team scoring points in only 12 out of 22 races.
Key Takeaways:
- Team Turbulence: Alpine faced a challenging year with CEO Laurent Rossi's departure, the sacking of team boss Otmar Szafnauer, and the exit of sporting director Alan Permane. The internal turmoil coincided with the team finishing sixth in the constructors' championship.
- Inconsistent 2023 Season: Alpine's 2023 season was a rollercoaster, scoring in only 12 of the 22 races. The team's best performance was at Monaco with 21 points, but they failed to score in several key races, including Australia, Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Italy, and Abu Dhabi.
- Driver Dissatisfaction: Both Ocon and Gasly, whose contracts expire after the next season, have expressed their desire to leave. They have reportedly asked their agents to explore opportunities with other teams, signalling their reluctance to extend their contracts with Alpine.
Alpine F1 Press Image
Alpine's recent season was marked by significant internal changes and disappointments. The departure of CEO Laurent Rossi and the firings of team boss Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane underscored the instability within the team. This instability appears to have impacted the drivers' morale and performance, with the team securing only a sixth-place finish in the constructors' championship.
The 2023 season was particularly challenging for Alpine. They started with a modest 2 points in Bahrain and followed up with 6 points in Saudi Arabia. However, the team failed to score in Australia and Azerbaijan. They bounced back with 6 points in Miami and a remarkable 21 points in Monaco, but their performance remained inconsistent throughout the season. Races in Great Britain, Italy, and Abu Dhabi further yielded no points, highlighting the struggles the team faced on various circuits as other teams out-developed them.
Amidst this backdrop, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly are contemplating their futures. The French drivers have seemingly lost faith in the team's direction. According to Spanish F1 journalist Pedro Fermin, they have already initiated talks with their agents to seek opportunities elsewhere.
"The two Alpine drivers have the clear intention of leaving the team at the end of this year," he said.
"Both Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly do not want to continue to suffer in Alpine and have given carte blanche to their representatives, to their managers, to start conversations with any team that wants to listen to them.
"Neither Gasly nor Ocon have confidence in the possibilities of the team, which is drifting. Both riders have expressed their will not to continue to be part of this Titanic , which is Alpine currently."
The situation at Alpine has raised questions about potential movements for Ocon and Gasly. The top teams may be out of reach, and other competitive teams like McLaren and Aston Martin also seem unlikely options. However, Ocon's potential move to Audi's Stake F1 team in 2026 is a notable idea, though it is still speculative at this stage. The German manufacturer's entry into Formula 1 has sparked widespread interest, with several drivers, including Carlos Sainz, Nico Hulkenberg, and Valtteri Bottas, being linked to the team.
2025 could leave us with an empty seat at Red Bull, although that will likely be filled by someone already within the Milton Keynes family. Aston Martin could be a potential option for one of the drivers, with Lance Stroll coming under more and more pressure against his teammate Fernando Alonso.