These are decisive weeks for the drivers' market. With 2 free seats for 2025 - Haas and Mercedes, and contracts expiring, several moves risk completely upsetting the line-ups we have been carrying with us since last year. Haas could even change both drivers, with Hulkenberg leaving for Sauber/Audi and no certainty for Kevin Magnussen, especially after the terrible performances of the first 6 races of the season. But not only Haas is destined for a double change in the line-up. Alpine, as reported by the Germans of F1 Insiders it could in fact lose both drivers, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. If this scenario were to occur there is a driver who could return to the Circus.
Alpine risks losing Gasly and Ocon
The situation of the French team is not the best. Alpine has only 1 point in the standings, earned by Esteban Ocon at the Miami Grand Prix. Of course, at the moment it is not last given that Stake F1 Team and Williams are still at zero, but for a team that aspires to fight for the world championship, starting the season with such difficulties is unacceptable. If others, Alonso and Piastri, sensed this disaster and abandoned ship before it was too late, the one who paid the most for this decline was Esteban Ocon, the one with the longest contract. Together with him also Pierre Gasly, who after having tasted what it means to work with a top team, namely Red Bull, albeit for a short period, never had the opportunity to show off again. The ambitions of the two still relatively "young" drivers were obviously to watch Alpine grow.
Other teams like McLaren, Aston Martin, have actually grown. Alonso achieved several podiums in 2022. The terrible results obtained since the beginning of the season have discouraged the entire team, which only saw a first small improvement in Miami. However, the path to return to the top still seems long and complex, especially given the continuous escapes that led to an internal reorganization of the team. For this reason, according to what F1 Insider reports Ocon and Gasly are reportedly considering leaving at the end of the season.
The options for Ocon and Gasly and…of course Alpine
As we said, there are two seats available at the moment: that of Nico Hulkenberg and that of Lewis Hamilton. Esteban Ocon, could just turn to Toto Wolff to occupy the latter, being a driver under the Mercedes wing. However, the main objectives of the Brackley team at the moment are two, Verstappen and Sainz. But as far as Max is concerned it is difficult to think of him leaving Red Bull for Mercedes, and Sainz is still in the balance with Audi. Another option for Ocon is Williams. Although here too competitiveness is not the team's strong point.
Carlos Sainz he is undoubtedly the rider who can change the fortunes of the two Alpine riders, steering the market one way or the other. Should the Spaniard reject Audi's offer, an opportunity would open up for Pierre Gasly.
And who would be there for Alpine in the event of the farewell of at least one of the two pilots? Always F1 Insiders reports that, waiting at the door, there would be an old, but not that old, acquaintance of the Circus, that is Mick Schumacher. The German who left F1 in 2022 is a Mercedes driver, but he currently races in the WEC with Alpine. TheThe move to F1 in 2025 would therefore not be impossible, especially if Alpine had to replace not just one driver but two.
Source: FormulaPassion
