While Formula One history is not on their side, the stakes are high for making this marriage work.
It has always been quite exciting in the world of Formula One when two popular drivers manage to be on the same team. To the squad that negotiates with them, the hope is that it will push the team up the order and, perhaps, win both Drivers’ and Constructors’ world titles. However, most of the time, things don’t turn out that way.
Consider these examples: Ayrton Senna/Alain Prost, Lewis Hamilton/Nico Rosberg, and even Hamilton and Fernando Alonso. In all cases, one driver retired, or the other driver moved on to another team. The most interesting example is Hamilton and Rosberg, who were friends until they became teammates at Mercedes.
Esteban Ocon (photo, Grand Prix 247)
Well, 2023 will give teams another chance to see if drivers can work together successfully. The Alpine F1 Team will consist of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. One thing in favor of success is that both drivers are not only French, but they are also from the same region of Normandy. Gasly comes from the upper area of Rouen, with Ocon hailing from the Basse region of Evreux. Plus, the two have a relationship that goes back to their karting days.
But then they fell apart, and it is not clear why. Ocon’s rocky pathway to Formula One may have contributed, focused as he was on being able to support himself along the way, including relying substantially on his family’s financial support. Eventually, he joined the Renault programme, and later the Mercedes unit, despite the team selling him to Renault. Then, at the beginning of 2021, the company split into three divisions, with Alpine as the sportscar unit.
Pierre Gasly (photo, XPB/Press Association Images)
Gasly joined the Red Bull junior program alongside such racers as Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. After showing promising results with Toro Rosso (now Alpha Tauri), Gasly was promoted to the senior Red Bull team alongside Verstappen. But while the Dutchman was making strides, Gasly was making mistakes. Eventually, Gasly was demoted to the junior squad, where he remained until the following season. And if it wasn’t for Alonso moving to Aston Martin, Gasly might have had to stay with Alpha Tauri.
While these two took different roads to where they are today, their future together is now the big question. On the positive side, it seems that Ocon wants to work with Gasly despite their differences. For one thing, he knows there aren’t any spots left on top teams for 2023. For another, he realizes that both drivers have talent, each having won a Grand Prix race.
But the big question still looms large. When 2023 rolls around, will these two be able to work and win together? If so, it will be a welcome change to what we’ve witnessed many times previously in Formula One.
