It doesn’t take a lot for the F1 hearsay mill to spin into overdrive, however when you may have a problem like Esteban Ocon’s Monaco catastrophe, it’s certain to ignite the hypothesis.
Alpine had simply its second factors end of the season after Pierre Gasly completed tenth at Monaco but it surely was virtually derailed as quickly because it began.
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The race was pink flagged on the primary lap when Haas’ Kevin Magnussen clipped Sergio Perez’s rear tyre together with his Pink Bull being left a mangled mess, whereas additionally taking out Magnussen’s teammate Nico Hulkenberg.
However there was additionally an incident on the identical lap simply earlier than the pink flags got here out when Ocon tried to make a transfer on his teammate Gasly, leaving Ocon airborne and struggling an excessive amount of harm to return to the race.
Fortunately for Alpine, the rest of the race was a procession and Gasly was capable of declare the staff’s second level for the season.
Nevertheless, the staff have been nonetheless very publicly fuming with Alpine staff principal Bruno Famin telling French broadcaster Canal+ it was loopy to aim the transfer on the primary lap.
“It’s unhappy to see this sort of incident,” Famin mentioned.
“It’s precisely what we didn’t wish to see. Esteban’s assault was fully out of line.
“It’s precisely what we didn’t wish to see, and there shall be penalties. We’re going to make a troublesome determination.”
Ocon, who copped a five-place grid penalty for the Canadian Grand Prix, apologised after the race as he was panned for his actions.
Sky Sports activities reported this may very well be as excessive as dropping Ocon for the subsequent race, the Canadian Grand Prix.
The hypothesis kicked off after Famin was seen calling reserve driver and Aussie younger gun Jack Doohan, who is taken into account the subsequent cab off the rank for the staff.
Talking on Sky Sports activities’ Ted’s Pocket book, Ted Kravitz mentioned: “I’ll say that I noticed Famin on the roof of the Alpine pit constructing, he referred to as Jack Doohan, the reserve driver, over for a chat. That they had a chat. I don’t know what the chat was about. After which Jack Doohan left and went down the steps.
“Now, I do know that’s not precisely Woodward and Bernstein and Watergate, but it surely’s all I’ve bought.
“Does that imply that Famin goes to penalise Esteban Ocon for doing what he instructed him to not do, by benching him for Canada? Possibly. Is he going to place Doohan within the automotive? Possibly.”
Whereas there was no phrase from the staff as but, Motorsport-Whole.com has reported Ocon shall be spared for the subsequent race, though the Alpine drivers will reportedly have a “non-aggression pact”.
Nevertheless, it’s protected to say the Frenchman is combating for his profession.
Ocon has been mentioned as a doable substitute for Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes seat because the seven-time world champion strikes to Ferrari in 2025, however Ocon’s newest act will do him no favours.
A Mercedes junior, the Silver Arrows confirmed earlier within the 12 months that Ocon nonetheless had ties to the staff, though he’s additionally been linked to a transfer to Audi or Haas.
However with each Ocon and Gasly out of contract on the finish of the 12 months, both one or each of the Frenchmen may very well be moved on from the staff at the moment struggling in ninth on the constructor’s championship.
And Sky Sports activities’ Martin Brundle urged the newest mistake may pour chilly water on the 27-year-old’s hopes of staying in Formulation One.
“Ocon is a superb and quick racing driver, however historical past clearly demonstrates that he has an irrational pink mist in the case of racing, significantly in opposition to his teammates,” Brundle wrote in his post-race column.
“He has been closely criticised earlier than by Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso for his intra-team aggression and make contact with, and now Gasly too. It would value Esteban closely as no entrance operating staff would entertain that sort of mentality, and even maybe any staff.
“A driver represents tons of of onerous working {and professional} folks, and tons of of thousands and thousands of kilos of funding and sponsorship when driving for an F1 staff. You merely can’t preserve attacking your one teammate with abandon.”
Nothing is definite till it’s sure in F1 and whereas Doohan looks as if the subsequent cab off the rank for Alpine, Mercedes reserve driver Mick Schumacher can be showing to be an possibility for the French staff.
Schumacher has additionally been spending his time racing within the World Endurance Championship for Alpine and Famin has taken discover.
Chatting with Sky Sports activities Germany, Famin mentioned of Schumacher: “I’m very proud of Mick, he’s tremendous quick.
“However that’s not the primary factor within the WEC, it’s important to drive at a constantly excessive degree and have an excellent staff spirit.
“I’m very impressed with him as a result of he tailored his angle to the long-distance races from day one. He has an excellent relationship together with his teammates. The whole lot is open for 2025, everybody talks to everybody. It could be a mistake to not have Mick on the checklist.”
As a substitute of Doohan? Alongside Doohan? There’s nonetheless lots to play out at Alpine because the F1 foolish season simply will get sillier.
