Former team boss Abiteboul: 'Alpine needs a Verstappen or Hamilton'
Cyril Abiteboul himself can talk about it. As former team boss of Renault - now Alpine - he knows how unsettled things can be at the French team. Currently, it is no different: the leadership has almost entirely fallen by the wayside, all in the hope that Alpine can take the long-awaited step towards the top in the near future.
Alpine has Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly for that, two French drivers who know what it is like to win a Grand Prix. Also two drivers who are very evenly matched. Thus, the mutual qualifying duel after 12 Grands Prix is six against six. There is no clear number one driver at Alpine. According to Abiteboul, therein lies part of the problem.
Abiteboul would opt for one leader
Speaking to France Info, the Frenchman addressed his former employer's situation: "Two names is one too many. Close your eyes and think of Mercedes. Then you think of Lewis Hamilton, even though Nico Rosberg has done extraordinary things. When you think of Red Bull, in the first cycle you think of Sebastian Vettel. Now the second cycle of Max Verstappen. There has to be a driver who is something like the team leader, that is fundamental. Right now the grid is extremely competitive, all the cars finish on the same lap. Soon the cars will be almost equal [in terms of strength]. Then ambition and determination will make the difference."
The length of driver contracts is almost never disclosed. Both Ocon and Gasly reportedly have ongoing commitments for 2024 as well. Gasly is also said to have an option for the following season. Meanwhile, waiting in the wings is Jack Doohan, the reserve driver hoping for an entry into Formula 1.
There is not much wrong with the two drivers they've got! The car is just cr@p!!
If you close you eyes and think of Renault/Alpine, you think of engine faillures, failing brakes, smoke coming from whereever etc. The one driver route they already tried, when they prefffered Ocon above Alonso. like everything with Alpine/renault it all went down the hill. In short no a no.1 drivers won't work for them they first need to sort out team and the engine and/or many mechanical failures. i have read nothing about them being allowed to ''boost'' their engine so i assume the Fia put it on the bank and came to the conclusion that there is no power deficit. or i'm just too inpatient
They had Alonso and Piastri. Lost both of them due to utter fulishness.
No elite driver is stupid enough to sign with Alpine the way they are currently run. So if they want a lead driver-second driver combination, then they will have to sign... Logan Sargeant.
What comes first .. car or driver? I don't follow this logic, for it is not logical. What's the point of having a weak driver? The issue here is the car, and the lack of technical progress.
Interesting perspective. I think any team would want either of these drivers. But Alpine did have Alonso and he left. I doubt any driver can make up the difference of being down 30 or more horsepower and I don't see how their presence will have the power engineers come up with the difference. Alpine needs to get its house in order and create a more reasonably competitive power unit and some stability with leadership before they will ever again attract the handful of drivers at the top. And they have Gasly and Ocon. Not Hamilton or Verstappen, of course, but both are quick and both have won. I think Prost said it best a few days ago.
Popular on GPBlog
FP3 at Suzuka: Will Verstappen and Red Bull turn their weekend around?
F1 Full Results | Japanese Grand Prix FP3: Norris leads McLaren one-two ahead of qualifying
Problems at Racing Bulls: Isack Hadjar experiencing cockpit struggles
