Ocon’s role in Gasly’s Q2 exit was almost another ‘flare-up’ at Alpine

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes admitted Pierre Gasly was “disgruntled” over his team mate’s role in his elimination from qualifying in Q2 at the last round in Brazil.

However Oakes said the pair showed their class as drivers by claiming a valuable double podium finish for the team in treacherous conditions.

Ocon claimed the team’s best starting position for a grand prix this year, taking fourth place after reaching Q3 in a rain-affected session. However his team mate did not accompany him as his last attempt at a time in Q2 was disrupted when Ocon overtook him moments beforehand.

Gasly and Ocon sat at the bottom of the times when Q2 restarted after a disruption caused by Carlos Sainz Jnr’s crash. Gasly followed Max Verstappen around on their out-lap but was held up when the Red Bull driver slowed at the last significant corner, Juncao, as he sought the best possible conditions for his lap.

But Ocon, following behind them, seized the opportunity to pass both and ensure he benefited from the cleared road ahead. Gasly was unable to improve his time and was eliminated, along with Verstappen, both falling foul of another red flag caused by Lance Stroll moments later.

Ocon’s tactics irritated both drivers including his team mate, said Oakes. “I think the Brazil Q2 race to get a lap, that could have probably flared up,” he told the official F1 channel. “But at the end of the day, in those situations, there’s always more to it.

“Esteban did his job, I think Max was disgruntled as well as Pierre, it wasn’t just one driver. At the end of the day, he made into Q3 so from my point of view, it’s just making sure they know what you’re going to accept and what you’re not.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

Alpine’s two drivers have had several clashes during and prior to their time as team mates, notably in Monaco this year, following which the team announced Ocon will leave them at the end of the season. But Oakes, the former Hitech team principal who took charge of Alpine in September, said he is pleased by the professionalism the pair have shown.

“I wouldn’t take credit for it because, in a nice way, they’re adults themselves, at the end of the day, I think probably they’ve been tarnished a little bit wrong – well, not wrong because obviously there has been incidents. So everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but F1 today’s a big business and everyone’s a keyboard warrior and has an opinion on how things should have been handled.

“I think from when I when I started that first race in Holland, I was pretty straight with them. I mean that in just the normal way it would be whether it was an F4 driver in Hitech before or F1 drivers.

“At the end of the day we’re all human and we need to work as a team. And I just said to them look, I’m never going to slag you guys in the media. You’re professionals, you know how to race, you know what’s expected of you.”

The three drivers who swapped places at Juncao near the end of Q2 all reached the podium in the rain-hit race. The trio benefited from not being able to pit during the Virtual Safety Car period, and Verstappen passed both Alpines on his way to victory.

Oakes praised his drivers’ performance for the team. “I think they have been fair to say they had their run-ins together. I cracked a joke, actually, post-Brazil in our internal memo here that it’s nice to see them have a hug. It’s been a long time coming.

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

“But also, in seriousness, they both are utter professionals. I don’t think they’ve been given enough credit, where the team started the year wasn’t where this team should be and they didn’t complain, they knuckled down, they worked hard in the sim, they pushed the team and they are brilliant.

“We saw that in Brazil in those conditions the job they did, they are top drivers. Maybe me coming in, someone new, my background, I’ve known both of them a few years, maybe there was a bit of trust already there.”

“They’ve both been brilliant,” he added. “Particularly Esteban, he is leaving the team so he could be within his rights to probably be a little bit disgruntled or difficult, but he’s been absolutely mega. I feel grateful I’ve got them both.”

Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and go ad-free

2024 Brazilian Grand Prix

Browse all 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix articles