via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan – June 12, 2022 Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Azerbaijan Grand Prix – Baku City Circuit, Baku, Azerbaijan – June 12, 2022 Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
As Fernando Alonso’s departure from Alpine is imminent, his current teammate, Esteban Ocon, feels the team would do just fine without him. Alonso, who returned to Alpine [former Renault] in 2021 to replace Daniel Ricciardo, will leave the team after two good years.
Alonso moves to Aston Martin next season to replace the outgoing Sebastian Vettel. However, Ocon feels the team can move ahead without him. With Pierre Gasly already set up for a replacement, Ocon has his childhood friend to accompany him in 2023.
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About Alonso, his departure, and times after that, Ocon conveyed, “Alonso is one of the most experienced drivers in the championship, but I think we can move forward without him.”
“Fernando is now moving to another team and we have to accept that. But we know we can achieve our goals with or without him.
I will personally miss Fernando, but we will continue to fight on the tracks,” concluded the Frenchman.
Alpine ropes in Pierre Gasly as Fernando Alonso’s replacement
As the French manufacturer gets ready to bid goodbye to the two-time world champion, they have already found their replacement. The Enstone-based team roped in AlphaTauri’s Pierre Gasly as Esteban Ocon’s teammate for the 2023 season.
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Saudi Arabia Grand Prix – Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – March 27, 2022 Alpine’s Fernando Alonso and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in action during the race REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
Alonso, who won both of his F1 world titles with the team [Renault then] decided to jump ship after two bitter-sweet years in Alpine. The move comes amid the Spaniard‘s unhappy state over the huge loss of points in the 2022 F1 season due to reliability issues.
As Gasly is all set to come to Alpine next year, he will form an all-French squad. As Alpine is a French team, with both Ocon and Gasly being French internationals, many believe they might form a perfect partnership.
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One among them is Gasly himself. The current AlphaTauri driver is of the opinion that they can handle the pressure and situation of both team and themselves. About this, the 26-year-old driver shared, “We are mature enough and intelligent enough to know what is best for us, and mainly most important for the team.”
