When everything seemed ready to sign the renewal of Fernando Alonso by the Alpine team, the French team woke up on the first day of the summer holidays with one of the news of the season, and that is that the Spaniard was leaving the project to go to Aston Martin after Sebastian Vettel’s retirement.
The announcement came suddenly, and it is that nobody within the team imagined that the Oviedo star would end up listening to Lawrence Stroll ‘s siren songs to end up signing for a team that, in theory, has a worse car than Enstone’s. The two-time world champion defended his position on his social networks, stating that it was a new step in his sports career to continue growing in what was a challenge, which shocked the Alpine leaders, who hoped to ratify his renewal at the Belgian Grand Prix.
The team manager, Otmar Szafnauer , was forced to speak to the press to clarify what happened and, furthermore, explain what will happen to the French for the rest of the season in which they fight to be fourth in the constructors’ championship against McLaren knowing that Alonso will leave the Gallic team.
“Our goals are quite clear. We want to finish at least fourth in the constructors’ championship,” said the American. “I think third place is too big a step, Fernando [Alonso] is also aware of that, although I haven’t spoken to him.”
“I don’t have any worries for the rest of the season, he’s a professional, he’s a competitor. Once he puts on the helmet, everyone knows as well as I do that he wants to do his best, which is nothing other than winning.” Szafnauer said. “And there’s nothing else going through his mind when he’s in the car, that’s what he’s here for.”
When Alpine ‘s CEO was asked how they will plan the rest of the season with the news of the Spaniard’s departure, he replied: “Fernando is a great rider that I have known for a long time.”
“I’ve only worked with him here, but, he’s been in Formula 1 since 2001, so I’ve seen him ever since, and now having worked with him you see he still has that passion to do well,” he continued. “Now we have to replace Fernando with the best driver, but what we must not forget is that we have a 100-race plan to start winning races and fighting for the championship.”
“We have almost more than 10, so we have about 80 left to get it,” defended the Alpine boss. “The choice has to be one that complements that goal, the driver that sits next to Esteban [Ocon] has to be the best option for us and help us reach that goal.”
Finally Oscar Piastri was the option, and it is that the confirmation came only one day after the departure of Fernando Alonso, but after losing an experienced driver, the most in the entire history of Formula 1 once he exceeds the record of Kimi Raikkonen in just a few grands prix, the Enstone team must rely on Ocon as their number one.
However, the legal mess is not over yet, and it is that, despite the fact that Alpine confirmed the young Australian for the 2023 season, Piastri himself denied his signing, and explained that he had not yet signed any contract, in addition to not having I would be with the Gauls next year.
Be that as it may, the French project will have to put all their trust in someone they have tied for several more years, Ocon: “Esteban is a super talent. I worked with him at Force India, those were the days when Sergio Pérez was his teammate, and he was just as fast as Sergio, a tough driver. If you remember that, they were always together on the grid, and sometimes they were even even in races.”
“With Fernando, too, although he has the ability and the talent to get a lap out of the car very quickly. He needs three or four to get 99.9%, and that 0.1% comes with a few more laps, whereas Esteban takes a bit longer to get the most out of the car,” Sfaznauer said.
“He has to learn a bit to do it faster, but we are working for that, and from there, he can lead the team,” said the Alpine boss, who will have the Frenchman under his command and will have to wait to find out what will happen to the young Piastri who was going to debut in 2023 after learning of the official announcement to replace Fernando Alonso, but who is now entering a legal mess with those of Ensonte.
