These drivers are in the picture to replace Ocon at Alpine

Alpine are saying goodbye to Esteban Ocon. The French racing stable will have to look for at least one, but possibly even two new drivers for 2025. These are the replacements in the picture for the factory team that only managed to gather two points in 2024.

What does Gasly's future look like?

Alpine's announcement felt very dramatic, but Ocon already had an expiring contract. So the press release that the two would part ways was more a confirmation that Ocon's contract will not be renewed, or does not want to be renewed. Indeed, with Audi and Haas, Ocon has two teams that are only too happy to bring him in.

How different it is for Gasly. Alpine's second driver also has an expiring contract, but his market value is currently much lower. Whereas Gasly impressed in 2023 by immediately beating Ocon in his first year for Alpine, in 2024 Gasly has been the lesser of the two drivers all season. So things can go that fast in Formula 1.

Whereas Ocon has clear other options to stay in F1, Gasly does not. The Frenchman has to hope for a new deal at Alpine. His experience and French nationality help, but Alpine is also looking at alternatives for Gasly. So there is also a chance that Gasly will grab next to a seat in F1 in '25.

Who are seriously in the picture?

Carlos Sainz is linked to almost every F1 team, including Alpine. One can hardly imagine that Sainz would choose a seat at Alpine over options like Audi and even Williams, but they are still a factory team. That the Spaniard was thus in talks with Alpine is understandable, however, it does not seem very serious that Alpine will actually manage to bring Sainz in.

A much more serious candidate seems to be Guanyu Zhou. The Chinese originally comes from Alpine/Renault training, made his F1 debut for Sauber and now has to make way for Audi's new hires there. Zhou brings with him several years of F1 experience and, most importantly, his Chinese fan base. That Chinese target audience is something Alpine is only too keen to reach for its car sales in Asia. Zhou himself would logically also be keen on the move.

The third name seriously linked to Alpine is Mick Schumacher. The German is already running for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship and is being put in the shop window by Mercedes. Schumacher, like Andrea Kimi Antonelli, is driving several tests in old F1 cars, trying to get himself into the spotlight.

Schumacher may even get the chance in F1 to show himself again before then. Indeed, Schumacher is said to be in the picture to replace Logan Sargeant during the 2024 F1 season. That way, he can show himself for the seat open at Mercedes for 2025, but possibly also for the seat at Alpine.

The Alpine Academy

Surely, with all the talks Alpine is having with various drivers, it is looking more and more like the Alpine Academy can be disbanded. At an earlier stage, the team already let Zhou and Oscar Piastri walk and both made successful debuts with other teams. Years of investment in those talents were thus exploited by competitors in F1.

Alpine again has two talents who have proven themselves at various levels. Jack Doohan in particular has good cards to secure a seat in F1. Despite several tests with old F1 cars, he does not seem to have a very good chance of getting a seat for 2025. The same goes for Victor Martins, although he is not helping himself either with a dramatic season in F2.

Alpine, despite being a factory team, are by no means in a luxury position for 2025 and that is not surprising. With new regulations looming, drivers like to choose a factory team, but factory teams where management is stable and where there is significant investment. There is neither of these at Alpine. Besides, it is very questionable whether there is enough investment in the engine for 2026 to avoid the same debacle as when the new engines were introduced in 2014.