Alpine Boss Otmar Szafnauer Blames FIA’s Controversial Decision to Play Matchmaker Between Pierre Gasly & Esteban Ocon

A crash during the final laps and then mayhem followed by that. Sounds familiar? Do you recall when FIA made changes to its structure to avoid a repeat of Abu Dhabi 2021? Well, it seems like Michael Masi’s return to the F1 paddock was enough for F1 to throw their learnings into the bin. FIA decision at the Australian GP was tactically used by Otmar Szafnauer as he tried to play matchmaker between his driver. How did he do it and what did he say?

The Australian GP gave more than it promised thanks to the demolition derby at the end of the race. The restart on Lap 57 was mayhem, as multiple cars crashed and went off track in an attempt to gain positions. However, Alpine was the worst affected team as both their drivers looked to score solid points, being well inside the top 10 before the mayhem. Pierre Gasly tried avoiding the crash at turn 1 and went off track. Unfortunately, while joining back the track, Gasly went into Esteban Ocon pushing him into the wall and ending the race for Alpine.

The Alpine boss has now come out playing matchmaker between his two drivers. Otmar Szafnauer explains how it wasn’t only his drivers who crashed and that the whole grid was a mess. He questioned FIA’s decision suggesting crashes happen during standing starts. And since there’s a lot at stake with only a couple of laps left after the restart, everyone took the risk in greed of a reward and paid the price by crashing or going off track.

According to the F1 Nation Podcast, Otmar Szafnauer said: “It wasn’t just our drivers who came together.” “I saw a picture of the restart and it seemed like the others were pointing the wrong way, across the track, off the track and I think the caption was best drivers in the world all over the place. That’s what happens when you have a standing restart with just a few laps to go. There’s a lot at stake which is the ability to win a Grand Prix. And everyone is bunched together at the end .”

Talking about how the teams work toward building a gap the whole race and that gap diminishing because of the restart, Szafnauer added “Usually with 3 laps to go there are significant gaps in between drivers. You know maybe 1 or 2 are racing for position or more.”

“But the entire race you’re working at creating gaps and when you bunch them all together with just a couple of laps to go, it’s not surprising that everyone takes that bit more risk for that big reward which is a race win.”

Read More: Esteban Ocon & Pierre Gasly Face New Nemesis in a Cut-Throat F1 Midfield Fight: “We Were Ahead of Alpine…”

The Alpine Honcho justified his driver’s crash and neutralized any possible friction between the two drivers by not blaming them for the accident. However, Pierre Gasly should’ve been aware when joining the track back. Nevertheless, Esteban Ocon opened up about the crash expressing his thoughts

Esteban Ocon forgives Pierre Gasly making life easier for Otmar Szafnauer 

Szafnauer does not have to worry about solving any problems between his two drivers. The two Frenchmen did the troubleshooting themselves with Esteban Ocon, forgiving Pierre Gasly for the collision that ended both their races. Ocon suggests that the restart was very chaotic and it could’ve been anyone who crashed into him. Unfortunately, it ended up being his teammate. Nevertheless, Ocon doesn’t have any hard feelings.

According to SkySports.com, Esteban Ocon said “After the chaotic restart it could have been anyone I collided with – a lot of cars were going off. It ended up being Pierre not leaving me much space but no hard feelings. He came and apologized and, as I say, it could have been anyone.”

Watch this story: F1 Clarifies Safety Car Rules That Cost Lewis Hamilton The 2021 Championship

What do you make of Otmar Szafnauer acting as a matchmaker between his two drivers?