Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes admitted Pierre Gasly was “disgruntled” over his team mate’s role in his elimination from qualifying in Q2 at the last round in Brazil.
However Oakes said the pair showed their class as drivers by claiming a valuable double podium finish for the team in treacherous conditions.Ocon claimed the team’s best starting position for a grand prix this year, taking fourth place after reaching Q3 in a rain-affected session. However his team mate did not accompany him as his last attempt at a time in Q2 was disrupted when Ocon overtook him moments beforehand.
Gasly and Ocon sat at the bottom of the times when Q2 restarted after a disruption caused by Carlos Sainz Jnr’s crash. Gasly followed Max Verstappen around on their out-lap but was held up when the Red Bull driver slowed at the last significant corner, Juncao, as he sought the best possible conditions for his lap.
Ocon’s tactics irritated both drivers including his team mate, said Oakes. “I think the Brazil Q2 race to get a lap, that could have probably flared up,” he told the official F1 channel. “But at the end of the day, in those situations, there’s always more to it.
“Esteban did his job, I think Max was disgruntled as well as Pierre, it wasn’t just one driver. At the end of the day, he made into Q3 so from my point of view, it’s just making sure they know what you’re going to accept and what you’re not.”
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Alpine’s two drivers have had several clashes during and prior to their time as team mates, notably in Monaco this year, following which the team announced Ocon will leave them at the end of the season. But Oakes, the former Hitech team principal who took charge of Alpine in September, said he is pleased by the professionalism the pair have shown.
“I think from when I when I started that first race in Holland, I was pretty straight with them. I mean that in just the normal way it would be whether it was an F4 driver in Hitech before or F1 drivers.
“At the end of the day we’re all human and we need to work as a team. And I just said to them look, I’m never going to slag you guys in the media. You’re professionals, you know how to race, you know what’s expected of you.”
The three drivers who swapped places at Juncao near the end of Q2 all reached the podium in the rain-hit race. The trio benefited from not being able to pit during the Virtual Safety Car period, and Verstappen passed both Alpines on his way to victory.
Oakes praised his drivers’ performance for the team. “I think they have been fair to say they had their run-ins together. I cracked a joke, actually, post-Brazil in our internal memo here that it’s nice to see them have a hug. It’s been a long time coming.
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“We saw that in Brazil in those conditions the job they did, they are top drivers. Maybe me coming in, someone new, my background, I’ve known both of them a few years, maybe there was a bit of trust already there.”
“They’ve both been brilliant,” he added. “Particularly Esteban, he is leaving the team so he could be within his rights to probably be a little bit disgruntled or difficult, but he’s been absolutely mega. I feel grateful I’ve got them both.”
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2024 Brazilian Grand Prix
- “I didn’t really want to come back” – Hamilton explains cryptic Brazil radio message
- Ocon’s role in Gasly’s Q2 exit was almost another ‘flare-up’ at Alpine – Oakes
- Interlagos must improve “very bad” new track surface for 2025, say F1 drivers
- “That’s how we silence them”: Verstappen’s stunning Brazil win from start to finish
- Verstappen now has as many wins as F1’s first six world champions combined
BasCB (@bascb)
20th November 2024, 12:20
I get it, but I think Max had himself to blame and Ocon did in the end do exactly what was needed to get the grid spot that gave them the opportunity for the podium on sunday.
baasbas
20th November 2024, 13:24
@bascb
Well yes but also no.. Only with the power of hindsight. It’s not like there was a ‘race’ going on to cross the start/finish line on time to start a last timed effort like we have seen at other venues. There was plenty of time. While not against the rules it is against general practice. He pulled what is considered a duck move on 2 drivers, one of which was a teammate.
BasCB (@bascb)
21st November 2024, 7:40
Sure, on the other hand, the alternative would have been Max (possibly) making it through and BOTH alpines out.
Off course the real issue is how long some teams wait to go out in a situation like this.
baasbas
21st November 2024, 8:40
@bascb
I disagree completely, time was not the issue at all.. Even when eventually the red did come (they were extremely slow with that) there was still 46 seconds on the clock. And that was way after everyone finishing their lap.
https://www.racefans.net/2024/11/03/the-unseen-moment-with-ocon-which-explains-verstappens-shock-q2-exit/
Basically there was a window in time where everyone could have set a lap with time to spare even. But the one try Gasly and Verstappen had was stuffed by Ocon. I assume the catalyst was Verstappen leaving a bigger gap than normal (per gps pit wall issues?) and Ocon stitched him and his teammate up while there was no rush for time at all. There is no reason a scenario ‘Verstappen through both Alpines out’ was even remotely likely.
This is an article about Ocon being possibly the worst teammate of the field, again, but since they ended up with a double podium it was swept under the rug. And then a reporter asking questions to someone desperately trying to find the right words …
hje
21st November 2024, 14:39
Both Alpines were rushed by the team to push on the outlap, and Ocon was indeed trying to overtake slow Gasly ahead.
Fer no.65 (@fer-no65)
20th November 2024, 13:41
I’m far from a fan of Ocon, but I have 0 sympathy for drivers compaining about being overtaken in line while waiting for the proper gap. If you want to drive around slowly, be prepared for the consequences.
Yes, it’s not nice, and there might be a gentlemen’s arrangement about it, but few people on the grid are there to “play it nice”. F1 never felt the need to enforce a rule about it, so why should Ocon (or anyone) wait.
SPArtacus
20th November 2024, 13:50
Agreed. Besides, Gasly should be grateful that the team has been heavily favoring since Monaco or he would have been embarrassed this year by Ocon. It’s no coincidence that the season went from Ocon being up something like 6-1 in quali to the exact opposite after.
I can’t think of two more dislikable drivers than Gasly and Ocon and both are in the same team. What an achievement.
PeteB (@peteb)
21st November 2024, 9:09
There are just too many examples of Ocon going into business for himself… There are moves that you can pull on 18 of the drivers out there but the teams ask that you don’t do it to 1 of them – your team mate. Despite countless incidents over the years, Ocon just doesn’t seem to get it and he’s now leaving F1 because of it.
It’s a shame because whilst we’re talking about Norris lacking the ruthless edge needed to win a Championship, Ocon has loads of that! He’s quick too. He’d have got a lot closer to Max if he was in the McLaren this year but of course, he’d have crashed into Piastri a couple of times and McLaren would likely be thinking about finding a replacement just as Alpine are.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
21st November 2024, 22:20
Ocon should have taken a RPG and blown his compatriot’s car up before going out for his qualy lap, then complaints/narratives like this might sound almost legitimate.