Alpine F1 Team Engages in Driver Talks Independent of Hamilton’s Move
The Alpine Formula 1 team is taking a proactive approach to its drivers and has revealed that it is already on track with current drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, despite recent reports that Lewis Hamilton will join the team in 2025. Transfers to Ferrari.
The team, led by boss Bruno Famin, stressed the importance of constant communication with their managers. Amid the driver market turmoil over Hamilton’s replacement, Famin said that negotiations with Ocon and Gasly had begun before the seven-time world champion’s surprise announcement.
“We can’t wait to talk to our drivers about going to Ferrari in Hamilton,” insisted Famine. “We are constantly negotiating with them, we are happy with the communication and the work they are doing. We talked about Hamilton before and after the news.”
With a long history at Mercedes, Ocon will be a strong candidate to fill Hamilton’s place as his contract with Alpine expires at the end of the season. Gasly confirmed that talks about the future are already underway, stressing that it is an ongoing process.
The Alpine F1 team has faced driver management challenges in recent years with the departure of Fernando Alonso for the 2022 season. This makes future decisions more complex, and the team is wary of past experiences.
Despite speculation about possible changes to the driver line-up, Famin insisted that the main focus is on car and team development. He emphasized that the team is satisfied with the current driver pair and that improving the overall performance is the priority.
If Ocon is selected for Mercedes, reserve driver Jacques Doohan, the son of legendary MotoGP rider Mick Doohan, could emerge as an alternative. Doohan recently confirmed that he has withdrawn from the third season of the FIA Formula 2 Championship to focus on his F1 prospects.
Famin concluded by saying that while they are monitoring the driver market, the focus is on the development of cars and teams. Confidence in the current drivers is clear, but mid-season performance will influence future decisions.
In short, the Alpine F1 Team takes a proactive approach in discussions with its drivers, ensuring that the team’s future is on track regardless of the significant changes in the Formula 1 environment.
