It’s been a tumultuous past few weeks for Alpine.
The Formula 1 team scored its second point of the season at the Monaco Grand Prix. Pierre Gasly held on until the end to finish in 10th place and claim his first points of the season. However, for hours after the chequered flag waved, discussion centred on an opening lap incident between Gasly and teammate Esteban Ocon. Ocon had attempted to overtake his teammate early in the race. The attempt led to a collision between the two, damaging the floor of Ocon’s A524 and forcing him to retire.
Team principal Bruno Famin said immediately after the incident: Canal Plussaid there would be “impacts” on Ocon, sparking speculation the driver could be benched for this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. Ocon will return to the A524 this weekend (albeit from FP2, with reserve driver Jack Doohan driving in FP1), but the team and Ocon announced earlier this week they would “part ways” at the end of the season.
Thursday’s FIA press conference Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix, it was Gasly’s turn to speak and he was asked about his relationship with Ocon.
Gasly had kind words for his teammate and their relationship at Alpine.
“There’s a long story between Esteban and I,” Gasly began, “and I think over the last year and a half we’ve been able to work and work together very professionally, so I think it’s important to mention this.”
“We’re two very competitive drivers so as you would expect it wasn’t always easy, but considering the story between us I think it was a good result.”
The “story” Gasly told was from their younger days and made headlines when the pairing of Gasly and Ocon was announced ahead of the 2023 season. The two drivers grew up together and were once very close, but their relationship cooled as they became more competitive.
Later in the press conference, Gasly was asked about his instructions to his teammate. After the opening lap incident in Monaco, much had been said and written that Ocon may have ignored team orders on the first lap. According to F1 analyst Lawrence Barrett, “Prior to qualifying in Monaco, Ocon and Pierre Gasly had been informed that team orders would apply in a Grand Prix and that it was the duty of drivers at the back of the grid to support drivers at the front.”
That didn’t happen.
Thursday in Montreal Gasly was asked if he had received any further instructions from the team following the Monaco incident.
Gasly stated that he had taken note of the directives that were put in place at the last race and that there should be no problems going forward.
“I think the instructions were pretty clear in Monaco, unfortunately that wasn’t the case on the track,” Gasly said, “but I’m pretty confident going forward we won’t have any issues.”
Gasly, like Ocon, was also asked about his own future in F1 as a driver for Alpine when his contract expires at the end of the season. Gasly hesitated when talking about his own future, saying “…at the moment I have nothing to announce about my future, and I’m sure you’ll find out in due course.”
