Alpine might just be making some big decisions in the wake of the recent crash between teammates Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly during the Monaco Grand Prix. The collision at Portier corner on the opening lap had Ocon’s car damaged beyond repair, while Gasly managed to finish 10th, earning his first point of the season.
Esteban Ocon took full responsibility for the incident, apologizing to the team and receiving a 10-second penalty from the FIA, which translates to a five-place grid penalty for his next race. Team principal Bruno Famin was visibly upset during a live Canal+ interview, expressing frustration at the significant damage to Ocon’s car and hinting at ‘drastic action’ to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Monaco clash is particularly troubling for Alpine, which has struggled with maintaining harmony between its drivers. Ocon and Gasly had been instructed to be cautious, but previous aggressive exchanges, such as at the Miami Grand Prix, had only narrowly avoided disaster. Famin’s comments post-race suggest that patience is wearing thin and changes might be imminent.
Alpine is exploring a range of options to address the situation. These could include financial penalties, strict team orders, or even altering the driver line-up. Another possible approach might be implementing a code of conduct similar to the one Mercedes used after incidents between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2016, which included clear penalties for breaches.
Famin conducted a post-race discussion with both drivers, emphasizing the need to avoid such detrimental behaviors. This incident is just the latest in a series of troubles involving Ocon, who has previously had on-track conflicts with teammates like Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez.
The racing world now has its eyes on Alpine’s decision-making process and what actions will be taken to ensure smoother operations going forward. It’s clear that the team is determined to prevent a repeat of the Monaco disaster and is willing to consider all avenues to avoid further intra-team conflicts.
As the season progresses, the focus will be on how Alpine manages its driver relations and whether they will take the drastic steps hinted at by Bruno Famin. The stakes are high as the team looks to secure valuable points and maintain a harmonious environment.
Source: Motorsport
