Alpine may have been due some good luck after missing out on the chance to promote Oscar Piastri to a 2023 race seat, as the Contract Recognition Board deemed that the Australian was free to race for McLaren despite being an Alpine academy driver.
After switching their attention to other targets to replace the Aston Martin-bound Fernando Alonso, it became apparent that the previous untouchable Pierre Gasly may be an attainable target after AlphaTauri’s 2022 struggles.
The Frenchman has been the star of AlphaTauri since he returned to the team in 2019 after a failed stint at Red Bull, however the team did not wish to stand in the way of their driver’s desire to race further up the grid, having earned the opportunity.
Esteban Ocon has been the understudy at Alpine during his two years with the team, learning from the vastly experienced Fernando Alonso who took more of a senior role with the team.
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With Gasly replacing the Spaniard, Ocon will be forced to step up to a bigger role with the team in 2023 by expects no issues with Alpine’s project next season after the change of driver lineup.
“The team is happy with the job I’m doing at the moment,” said Ocon, as quoted by GPFans.
“So I’m not concerned that with Pierre on board, we have enough information, and I have enough experience inside the team to be straight away on the pace and to help them develop early on in 2023.
“Of course, Pierre needs to be as quick as he can early on because we need to be scoring points.
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“I’m sure with everything we have in place now, there’s going to be no issue.”
Ocon has previously suggested that he expects his new teammate to adapt to life at Alpine quickly, such is the talent held by Gasly, as both team and driver aim to become regular podium challengers in 2023.
Ocon and Gasly have previously had their problems at junior level, however both drivers have been quick to rubbish suggestions that their relationship at Alpine will be anything other than harmonious, as both Ocon and Gasly have matured greatly since their younger years.