Il weekend in Japan ended with both Alpine team single-seaters in the area points and a excellent result for the French, especially after the two retreats by Esteban Or with in the Singapore race and that of Monza. However, when the checkered flag waved on the Suzuka circuit, the celebrations had to give way to controversy over the case of the exchange of positions between Ocon and Gasly.
Alpine once again at the center of controversy
After the distortion of the box wall, which led to the dismissal of Szafnauer, Perms e Fry last July, another storm hit the Alpine garage. This time the case occurred on the track, in the final laps of the Suzuka Grand Prix, due to a team order to Pierre Gasly in which he was asked to let his companion pass team, Ocon.
A furious Gasly agrees and lets his compatriot cross the finish line in ninth place. Not shown live by the cameras, it is frustration is visible of driver number #10, who in addition to banging his fists on the steering wheel of his car, bring the finger medium high, showing it to Ocon the moment he overtakes.
Alpine's statement on the Ocon-Gasly case in Suzuka
Ad eight laps to go of the race, the team lets the former AlphaTauri driver pass Esteban, for attempt to overtake dell 'Aston Martin driven by Alonso. According to what was reported by a press release released from the team, a gasly Ocon was allowed to pass, because It had fresh tires compared to his partner. The only goal was to earn a position longer. Pierre is not But successful in the intent and at the end of the rounds, he was asked to return to their original positions.
The versions of the two pilots
They are words filled with anger, those who Pierre Gasly, Alpine driver turns to his engineer when asked to let Ocon pass. “I was faster! I had fresher tires if he hadn't let me pass I would have gotten over it anyway”, says the Frenchman. However, when he is told that the exchange of positions must take place, gasly he blurts out again. During the exchange he admits: “I started in front, I was in front the whole race, you allow him to do it the undercut and then…".
Esteban Ocon, happy of the result obtained in Suzuka, has his say on Gasly's case: “Is coming performed a position change to takeand the driver in front, the target è get over it and hold the position. Otherwise the place must be returned to the teammate”. He then admits that probably he would have done the same and that according to him what Pierre says about being faster is irrelevant. “It doesn't matter if you feel fast, you have to fight for your place. Until we're as fast as we want, if you don't make the move, you won't know who will be asked to let through".
SOURCE STATEMENTS: FormulaPassion.it
