Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon will no longer share a garage. Their relationship in Alpine F1 lasted two seasons in which off-track treatment was cordial, but inside there was some friction, especially at the end, which clouded everything. The culmination of what was seen in Hungary or Saudi Arabia came in Brazil, with two touches in the sprint race, radio messages and strong subsequent declarations.
Then, at the end of the course, the Frenchman didn’t hide that he was delighted to have finished the Drivers’ Championship with more points than the Spaniard. Speaking of the two-times world champion’s six retirements, he said that he too had his problems.
Now, in an interview with L’Equipe, the Frenchman goes further than other aspects related to teamwork. When asked about the arrival of Pierre Gasly to replace Fernando, Ocon was asked about the distribution of the workload at Alpine and he was emphatic. “I hope that changes because honestly, it was 98% on my back and 2% on Alonso’s back. I wasn’t overworked, but I did all the development in the simulator and almost all the marketing trips,” he has declared. .
Esteban has openly stated that he prefers another way of doing things. “I think that with Pierre (Gasly) we can share this job very well. It will help me keep more energy for next season. I’m sure it will be much better this way,” he says.
Getting close to the big ones
Finally, Ocon sent a message of optimism regarding the team’s progression alongside the newcomer and his disadvantage with the big boys, Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes. “With its two Frenchmen, Alpine hopes to tickle the top three in the constructors’ championship in 2023,” he says.
the other version
However, another version is circulating in the ‘paddock’ and that is that Ocon copied Alonso’s settings and driving style point by point on each circuit and did so because it was his way of playing three or four tenths (up to half a second in occasions) that Fernando regularly supported him in free practice, especially on new or less common circuits, or when there were complicated conditions. Fernando’s best grid position is second in Canada and Ocon’s is fifth in Hungary.
It is not clear how, having prepared 98% of the simulator, the Frenchman was beaten by the Asturian in qualifying (10-9), had less and less pace than Fernando in the average lap times in the race or could only beat him from 6 failures on Sunday and another four in other sessions for the ’14’, for just two in the car.
Another thing is that they wanted to hide the news of Alonso from the summer once they knew that he would not continue in the team, which is common in these situations so that the driver who does not continue does not take important information to his new team . And as far as marketing trips are concerned, they would be the ones stipulated in the contract in advance.
