Pierre Gasly is the latest name to be linked to the vacant seat at the Alpine F1 Team, after Oscar Piastri refused to replace the outgoing Fernando Alonso.
The Scuderia AlphaTauri driver joins the likes of Daniel Ricciardo, Mick Schumacher and recently Jack Doohan in being linked to the Enstone-based team’s seat.
Gasly has recently signed a deal with the Faenza-based team for 2023; however, this could be paid out by Alpine should they want to sign the French driver.
Were Alpine to sign Gasly then this would see the team have a completely French line-up, with Esteban Ocon and Gasly both being from France.
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Some may say it would be a ‘dream’ for the French team to have two French drivers; however, ex-F1 driver Paul di Resta doesn’t see it this way.
According to the former Force India driver, Gasly and Ocon “don’t get on well”, something which the Scotsman thinks could be an issue for Alpine should they sign the 26-year-old.
“It’s no secret that he and Ocon don’t necessarily get on too well,” ex-F1 driver di Resta said on Sky.
“I don’t think too many team-mates get on with Ocon, to be honest.
“You heard Fernando on the radio. They work together on track but off it? He can be quite difficult. Sergio Perez had the same issue.
“This is about compensation for [Alpine] to be able to then get Gasly.
“A double-French line-up would be great.
“Gasly in that system, with the way he is driving, would be a credit.”
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Ocon’s current relationship with team-mate Alonso is a strange one, with the pair seemingly okay with each other off the circuit, but on it they have clashed on a number of occasions.
Ocon most recently defended incredibly aggressively whilst Alonso was trying to pass at the Hungarian Grand Prix, something which cost both drivers valuable seconds.
Whilst di Resta sees Gasly and Ocon not being a great idea, Sky’s Rachel Brookes insisted that she finds Ocon “nothing but charming!”.