After Deploying Ugly Tactics Against Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon Shuts Down Toxic Allegations With “Normal” Statement

Looking at Esteban Ocon celebrating with Fernando Alonso during the champagne bath in Principality, one would forget about their rivalry. However, their rivalry grew from strength to strength in the years 2021-22, ultimately causing chaos on the track. When Alonso returned to F1 in 2021, Ocon was happy to have a ‘legend’ as his teammate. But it’s F1, and rarely do teammates become companions. So the Spaniard and the Frenchman had several altercations in their time as Alpine riders – many of them due to the aggressive nature of the 26-year-old pilot. Eventually, it forced Alonso to make a switch to Aston Martin, but that only intensified the rivalry, making it more toxic. However, after the Monaco podium, keeping the bad blood aside, Ocon showered praises on his former teammate.

‘I have great respect for him, I always have,’ Ocon said of the 41-year-old driver. But at the same time, Alpine is making strides as a team with improved performance. In the Monaco GP, despite a late spell of rain and pressure from both Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton, Ocon pulled off a great performance and finished P3. Although many brushed it off as a one-off, the Alpine drivers delivered another fine driver in the Spanish GP- this time, matching Aston Martin’s pace. If not for Pierre Gasly’s grid penalty in the qualifying, one Alpine would’ve finished ahead of the Aston Martins in P6(Lance Stroll), and P7(Fernando Alonso). With upgrades working as a turning point for the year for Alpine, Ocon feels confident and doesn’t mind reopening the case with his former rival teammate. 

Feeling assured that he could not keep the Aston Martin driver behind due to the speed of the AMR23, Ocon said after the Spanish GP: “I enjoyed racing with him. Once I saw he was on the right-hand side, I dropped back because I knew I couldn’t keep him back. I made it for two laps, but then I had to let him go. It was pretty normal, all good. No drama in Absolutely, it was a good race. I enjoyed and will enjoy many more battles with Fernando Alonso.” [Translated using Google]

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While one driver is hoping for more crossovers on the track with his former teammate, other claims to beat him. 

‘will be hunting Aston Martin’: Pierre Gasly 

Pierre Gasly delivered a fine performance to qualify fourth on the grid, but that fine work has been undone by the stewards. Having been found guilty of impeding other drivers – first Carlos Sainz in the penultimate corner during Q1 and then Max Verstappen in the first sector later on, Gasly was handed a grid penalty, dropping him to P10. Going into the race, it went from bad to worse for the 27-year-old. He lost four more positions on the race’s opening lap after running wide at turn two and ultimately finished P10. On the other hand, the Monaco star delivered a decent drive but only finished in P8.

Although Alpine finished behind the Silverstone team, Pierre Gasly claimed that they will soon catch up with them and fight to be inside the top five. Reflecting on his penalty-filled Spanish weekend, Gasly said: “Alpine will be fighting for the top five very soon and will be hunting Aston Martin. We have definitely taken a step forward. The improvements are working and there are clear signs that the rhythm is there. It feels like an unsatisfactory result compared to the pace we had. But I think we had the Aston Martin pace,”

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In the end, Ocon’s P8 and Gasly’s P10 gave the team 5 points, keeping them fifth in the Constructors’ Championship on 40 points.