Ocon was “completely demotivated” and too far from Gasly

After the difficult 2024 season, finally ending in a happy sixth place among the manufacturers thanks to the improbable double podium at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Alpine will move forward in 2025 with an unprecedented duo composed of Pierre Gasly, designated leader of the structure of which he has been part since 2023, and Jack Doohan.

Exit Esteban Ocon, whose non-renewal was announced in June and who found refuge at Haas. Earlier than expected, moreover, since the Enstone team offered him a few days before not competing in the final GP of the season in return for which the Frenchman could compete in the Abu Dhabi tests with his new stable. If Ocon accepted this deal, not without regret at not having been able to say a real goodbye to his colleagues, Flavio Briatore believes that the choice to release the winner of the 2021 Hungarian GP was obvious.

“I see things differently than the general public on Esteban Ocon”he explained in an interview for Le Parisien. “We really have to thank him for what he did in Brazil with this podium. But after this race, he had the lead in his new team Haas. And we were playing for sixth place among the constructors against them. Me, I saw him in the last races completely demotivated with too big a gap with Pierre.”

“At the same time, I wanted to try what I had in the pipeline as a driver for the future. It’s not that I had a problem with Esteban or that I preferred Jack. I’m not looking the nationality, if he is Turkish, French, Japanese… I just have to find out who is the best driver.”

We will start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee it. Afterwards, we will see during the season.

Rumors appeared at the very end of the season about the possibility of Alpine’s interest in Franco Colapinto, instead of Doohan. When asked if Gasly and the Australian are “sure” to start the first GP of 2025, Briatore replied: “The only thing sure is death [rires]. We will start the year with Pierre and Jack, I can guarantee it. Afterwards, we will see during the season.”

“I have to put the team in condition to get results. And the driver is the one who has to complete the work of nearly 1,000 people behind him. Everyone works for only two people. If there is a driver who doesn’t progress, who doesn’t bring me results, I change him. You can’t be emotional in F1.”

Despite everything, Briatore wants to highlight Gasly’s work: “Pierre has done an extraordinary job. He has surprised me enormously this year. He is really our driver. I really thank him. He has completely changed his attitude this season. He has never had any accidents. Yes we managed to be sixth, it’s thanks to him. I’m sure that Pierre will continue his great work and that Jack Doohan will be up to his standards.”