Метка: Alpine

Gasly lays out Le Mans victory ambitions after 2024 race visit with Alpine

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly said it ‘didn’t feel right’ to attend the Le Mans 24 Hours in casual clothing as he revealed his ambition to compete in the sportscar epic.

Gasly and Alpine F1 team-mate Esteban Ocon were in attendance at last week’s 92nd running of the French endurance classic, where the Renault-owned squad made its Hypercar return with the new A424 LMDh prototype.

Frenchman Gasly had spent a large part of his teen years living in Le Mans while he was a part of the French federation’s young driver programme, and even completed his schooling in the same city.

Returning to La Sarthe as it played host to the fourth round of the 2024 World Endurance Championship on June 15-16, the 28-year-old said there was something off about watching the race from the sidelines.

Speaking to Eurosport on the starting grid, the one-time grand prix winner expressed a desire to get hold of a competitive car and fight for outright victory at Le Mans in the coming years.

“I think it’s every kid’s dream,” he said. “I watched this race since I was that tall [pointing to the ground].

“I actually lived five years in Le Mans, I studied here, and I’ve got a very close proximity with this city and this track.

Photo by: Alpine

“For sure, it will be a dream to win Le Mans one day. We will see. For now, I’m fully focused on Formula 1 and it’s not really in the pipeline.

“But definitely seeing these guys out today but just wearing normal sneakers and jeans just doesn’t feel right, so hopefully one day I will be able to be in a good car to participate in Le Mans.”

Gasly is the latest F1 driver to have publicly talked about his dream of racing in the blue riband round of WEC.

World champion Max Verstappen recently revealed that he had been contacted by a number of teams regarding an entry into Le Mans, while Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was also keen on taking part in the race with the Italian marque’s 499P LMH after watching the Prancing Horse score victory in last year’s centenary event.

Any Le Mans outing for an F1 driver in the near future, however, has been ruled out by a calendar clash, with next year’s 93rd edition falling on the same weekend as the Canadian Grand Prix.

Gasly said he has a “lot of respect” for drivers who compete at Le Mans, with a gruelling schedule and changeable weather combining to make it one of the hardest races on the motorsport calendar.

“I find it fascinating,” he said. “I talked about it. I’ve got many friends racing here actually which makes it even cooler because I’m on the grid and I’m seeing a lot of guys I raced against.

“I was saying like, ‘4am, with one hour of sleep, it’s going to be absolutely pissing down and it’s going to be very extreme’.

“I think we have got to appreciate [them]. As a racing driver, I really appreciate how hard it is and hopefully, people on TV can realise as well because it’s tough.

«To focus for an hour and a half, it’s a big challenge, but to focus for the full 24 hours and sharing the car…..

“These guys are the best to explain it, but [I have] a lot of respect for these guys.”

Alpine had shown promising pace at the start of the 2024 WEC season with its pair of A424s run by the factory Signatech team, but its Le Mans appearance was cut short after both cars suffered engine failures in the first six hours.

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Alpine prioritising «professionalism» in search for Ocon replacement

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Ocon and Alpine announced prior to the Canadian Grand Prix that they would part ways at the end of 2024, in the wake of his first-lap clash with team-mate Pierre Gasly at Monaco.

Although Ocon and Gasly have a well-publicised fractious relationship, the two vowed to work together for the good of the team when partnered together at the start of 2023.

However, they have both contributed to various flashpoints throughout their 18 months as team-mates, the clash at Monaco being one of them.

Team principal Bruno Famin is thus working on finding a replacement for Ocon, as the team is also looking to retain Gasly for 2025 despite suffering from a poor start to this season.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Famin stated that his priority was not to find two drivers who already get along to avoid the Ocon/Gasly issues, but instead focus on signing «professional» drivers willing to work together.

«I think the relationship doesn’t matter. The professionalism matters. We need professional drivers,» Famin stated.

«They need to work together. It’s part of the job to be able to work with his team-mate to get the best for the team.»

Famin stated that reserve driver Jack Doohan was one of the drivers under consideration at the team; the Australian youngster was given an FP1 drive at Ocon’s expense in Montreal, but the wet conditions hampered his running.

Bruno Famin, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team

Bruno Famin, Team Principal, Alpine F1 Team

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Doohan has been undergoing a test programme in older Alpine machinery, having taken a year out of racing after finishing third in last year’s F2 championship.

Sauber duo Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu have also been linked to the team, as has Alpine World Endurance Championship driver and Mercedes F1 reserve Mick Schumacher — although the German is believed to be an outsider for the drive.

«I think he’s an option, for sure. Jack is an option. We are preparing him. He was testing in [Austria] not long time ago and yeah, he has a quite heavy testing programme — and we’re happy with that,» Famin continued.

«Let’s see how he develops. He is one possibility among others, but he’s one possibility for sure.»

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Ocon explained that his relationship with Famin was not damaged by their decision to part ways, despite the ex-Peugeot chief’s furious admonishment of Ocon’s Monaco actions on Canal+.

«I talked with Bruno; I was at the factory for normal preparation before the weekend, and had a chat with Bruno. We were just talking about a lot of things,» Ocon said.

«There’s no awkward moment, there is no damage between our relationships altogether. Everything has been discussed, and we move on, and we keep racing to try and do the best we can.»

Additional reporting by Jonathan Noble



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Ocon denies Doohan’s FP1 outing is a punishment for Monaco F1 incident

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The Frenchman is leaving Alpine at the end of this year after he and the team announced this week that their futures were better set apart.

That decision came shortly after a controversial collision with Gasly on the opening lap of the Monte Carlo race, which left his team boss Bruno Famin warning that there would be consequences.

Intrigue about what action the team has taken, with their split for 2025 considered likely before the Monaco crash, was further fuelled when Alpine announced that reserve driver Doohan would be taking Ocon’s car for opening practice in Montreal.

PLUS: The worrying messaging in Alpine’s F1 recovery plan

The timing of the decision is a break from the past, with Alpine having previously waited until the final races of the campaign to use its rookie practice runs.

But Ocon has laughed off reports stating that Alpine slotting in Doohan in Montreal was punishment for what happened – as he said there were clear competitive reasons for doing it here.

“I’ve seen that [punishment suggestion] a lot from the media, and it’s not the case at all,” he said. “As a team we have to give two FP1s for rookies. And I’m giving mine to Jack here.

“It’s a track that’s going to be green to start with, with the new tarmac, and it’s quite dirty at the moment. So, things need to be cleaned up a little bit.

“I got a five-place grid penalty as well, unfortunately for the race. So, my qualifying is a lot less important than usual. It’s more the race trim.

“And, from a team point of view, we think we are going to have probably a more competitive car later in the year. So, for us, you know, to do that [run Doohan] early is a good thing, instead of doing it in Mexico, Abu Dhabi, like we usually do.”

Jack Doohan, Reserve Driver, Alpine F1 Team, does a seat fit

Jack Doohan, Reserve Driver, Alpine F1 Team, does a seat fit

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Monaco fallout

While the Monaco crash was a factor in the timing of Ocon announcing he was leaving the team, it is understood that it was not the sole reason for them ending their relationship.

As Ocon explained, discussions between him and Alpine had been taking place for a while about their future together.

“We’ve been talking with the team for several months,” he said. “Alpine is a big group, Renault is a big group, and it’s the kind of team that is not taking decisions on just a single race.

“We’ve been talking. We’ve agreed mutually to come to an end, basically, at the end of the contract.

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“I’ve spent five years inside this team. We had some amazing moments and [tougher] ones, but five years in terms of Formula 1 world is a long time. Definitely. And, yeah, I’m excited for the challenge ahead and excited to finish the collaboration on a high.”

Ocon said that he and Famin had spoken at length since what happened in Monaco and was clear that there was no lingering tension behind the scenes.

“I was at the factory for normal preparation before the weekend, and had a chat with Bruno,” he said. “We were just talking about a lot of things and there’s no awkward moment, and there is no damage between our relationships altogether.

“Everything has been discussed. We move on, and we keep racing to try and do the best we can.”

Asked if there would be a change of approach in how he and Gasly race each other, Ocon said: “As a driver and with the team I have always followed the instructions I’ve been given to race. So, there have been no changes.”

Watch: The Future of Formula One — First Look at The 2026 F1 Regulations



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Who could replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine?

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The announcement that Ocon will be out of his seat comes a week after the Frenchman caused a collision with his team-mate Pierre Gasly during the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix. Alpine’s team principal Bruno Famin warned “there would be consequences”, with many expecting the team to have a driver line-up change for the Canadian Grand Prix 

It is understood that the decision to part ways with Ocon was not entirely based on the Monaco crash, but did impact the team’s final decision. The 27-year-old’s contract was set to expire at the end of this season, making his seat one of 10 that will be up for contention for 2025.

Ocon joined the then-Renault team in 2020, taking his only win the following year at the Hungarian GP and two further podium finishes during his time with the Enstone-based team. In an announcement on social media platform X, Ocon said : “I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have achieved the things I did with this team, from my first podium to my first win in Formula 1. These achievements truly were dreams come true. “

Ocon has said he will announce his future plans “very soon” but will continue to drive for Alpine until the end of the year. His next move is unknown, although Haas is reportedly interested in Ocon as an experienced team-mate alongside the potential signing of rookie Ollie Bearman.

He is also understood to be considering a move to Sauber if Carlos Sainz decides to reject the offer from the soon-to-be Audi team. The outgoing Ferrari driver is currently weighing up several contract options, including Audi and Williams.

Although no official announcement has been made, Alpine will likely renew their contract with Ocon’s team-mate Pierre Gasly for the next season.

Who could replace Esteban Ocon at Alpine?

Alpine will now be looking at who can replace Esteban Ocon for the 2025 season. There are 10 seats still available across the grid, with many drivers’ contracts set to expire at the end of the year.

Jack Doohan

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

Current team: Alpine (reserve driver)
Best F2 Championship position: 3rd (2023)

One of the most likely candidates to replace Ocon is the team’s reserve driver Jack Doohan. He made his single-seater debut in 2018 in the British F4 Championship, dovetailing his full season in British F4 with appearances in the Italian and ADAC Formula 4 championships that same year. He progressed into Asian F3 and Euroformula Open in 2019, finishing second and 11th respectively.

Doohan joined the HWA Racelab line-up in Formula 3 in 2020 but struggled through that first season, picking up a best finish of 11th and scoring zero points, before moving to Trident the year after and taking home second in the drivers’ standings alongside three wins. The 21-year-old moved to F2 and spent two full seasons competing, taking home six wins and 11 podium finishes.

In 2022, an impressive performance saw Doohan finish 3rd in the championship, including three wins in Hungary, Belgium and Abu Dhabi.

Doohan joined Alpine in 2022 when he joined the team’s academy line-up, which included test-driving the F1 car. In 2023, during his final year in F2, the Australian was announced as a reserve driver for Alpine and took part in test drives throughout the season, including practice sessions at the Mexico City and Abu Dhabi grands prix.

He has since put his full focus into the 2024 season with Alpine, which includes testing the A522 and simulator testing, to help the team make improvements to the car.

Mick Schumacher

Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Current team: Alpine WEC driver
F1 races: 43
F1 points: 12
Best F2 Championship position: 1st (2020)
Championship titles: F3 European Championship (2018), F2 Championship (2020)

Mick Schumacher could get a second chance at a Formula 1 seat with his connections to the Alpine team. Schumacher is currently the reserve driver for Mercedes and McLaren and has held the role since the start of the 2023 season.

The German driver is a previous race winner in Formula 4 and won both the 2018 European F3 championship and the 2020 F2 title. The son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher then joined the Haas F1 team before being dropped at the end of the 2022 season.

Schumacher had a disappointing two seasons with the American team, only scoring points at two races in 2022. He was unable to reach the top 10 in 42 other races, including retiring his car five times.

Schumacher has since worked with Alpine, testing their Endurance prototype in 2023, before being signed to join the 2024 Hypercar class of the World Endurance Championship for the Enstone-based team.

Following the announcement, Schumacher said: “A new chapter is beginning for me with Alpine in the WEC Hypercar category. The car is impressive, and I can’t wait to get started. I’ve grown up with single-seaters, so driving a car with a closed cockpit and covered wheels is a great opportunity to hone my driving skills.

“Endurance racing is a new challenge for me, and I’m sure we will share great moments together next year with Alpine.»

Zhou Guanyu

Photo by: Sauber

Current team: Sauber
F1 races: 52
F1 points: 12
Best F2 Championship position: 6th
Championship titles: F3 Asian Championship (2021)

Zhou Guanyu has also been linked to a potential move to Alpine, as his contract with Sauber expires at the end of the 2024 season. Sauber has already signed Nico Hulkenberg into one of the team’s seats for the upcoming season but is yet to announce which — if either — of its two current drivers will remain with the team.

The Chinese driver is a former member of the Alpine Academy, serving as a test driver for the team in 2020 and 2021. He’s had a fairly disappointing few years in F1 where he has finished 18th in the championship for the last two years and scored only six points finishes in 52 starts.

Before moving up into Formula 1, Zhou spent three years in F2, before claiming the F3 Asian championship in 2021.

F1 drivers without a seat at the end of 2024

Photo by: Ferrari

There is still half the current F1 grid without seats going into next season, that could all be considering a potential move to Alpine. Drivers whose contracts expire at the end of the year include:

  • Carlos Sainz
  • Sergio Perez
  • Daniel Ricciardo
  • Yuki Tsunoda
  • Kevin Magnussen
  • Logan Sargeant
  • Pierre Gasly
  • Esteban Ocon
  • Zhou Guanyu
  • Valtteri Bottas



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Ocon to leave Alpine at end of F1 season

Опубликовано от ASPPA IMAGES ANO


Although it is understood that the decision is not based entirely on what happened at Monaco, the recent events did play a part in the decision that it would be best for them not to continue into 2025.

Speaking about the decision, Ocon said: “It’s been a significant period of my life to be racing at this team in Formula 1.

“While I’ve been here for five years as a full-time racing driver, my professional career started at Enstone back when I was a teenager, so it will always be a special place for me.

“We have had some great moments together, some tough moments as well, and I am certainly grateful to everyone at the team for these memorable times.

“I will announce my plans very soon but, in the meantime, my full focus is on delivering on track for this team and having a successful remainder of the season.”

Ocon will continue to drive for the team for the remainder of this season, including this weekend’s Canadian Grand Prix. He last week hit out at the online abuse he had received for his part in the collision with Gasly which put him out of the Monte Carlo race.

Photo by: Erik Junius

Team principal Bruno Famin, who had talked of ‘consequences’ for the Monaco collision, believed that both driver and team would continue to deliver their best for the remainder of the campaign.

“We would like to firstly thank Esteban for his commitment to the team for the past five years,” he said.

“During his time, we have celebrated some fantastic moments together, the best of which coming at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix with a memorable race win.

“We still have 16 races to complete in 2024 together with a clear objective: to continue to work tirelessly as a team to push for the best on-track results. We wish Esteban the very best for the next chapter of his driving career when that moment comes.”

Alpine is likely to continue in 2025 with Gasly, whose contract is up for renewal at the end of this year. Candidates to partner him include reserve Jack Doohan, who could run in first practice in Canada this weekend, and its WEC driver Mick Schumacher. Sauber’s Guanyu Zhou has also been linked with the seat.

Ocon’s next step in F1 is not clear, but he has been most strongly linked with two options on the grid.

Haas is known to be interested in the Frenchman, as it considers its best option for an experienced team-mate to its likely promotion of rookie Oliver Bearman next season.
Ocon is also understood to be the Sauber/Audi team’s preferred option if Carlos Sainz elects not to take up an offer that he has with the Swiss-based squad.

Sainz is currently evaluating whether to commit his long-term future to Audi or accept a drive that Williams has offered him to be team-mate to Alex Albon from next year.

Ocon has driven for the Alpine team since 2020, when it then competed until the Renault banner. He was able to deliver the French manufacturer a victory at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, which was also his very first in F1.

Since then, he has delivered two further podium finishes, although this season has not delivered the success that both he and the squad had hoped for.



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Ocon hits out at «misinformed statements and gross distortions» after Alpine F1 clash

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Ocon made a bold move on then ninth-placed Gasly in the first lap of the Monte Carlo race, diving down the inside at Portier, which turned out to be too optimistic – both Alpine cars collided and the former had to retire after being launched in the air.

Gasly criticised his partner for not respecting team orders, explaining «the trailing car was supposed to help throughout the race», while team principal Bruno Famin rocked the boat by stating his intention to «take drastic action».

This comment led to rumours swirling online, with some media speculating that Ocon would be benched for the Canadian Grand Prix.

More: Why Ocon’s ‘not a team player’ reputation exists — and how he can fix it

While it is understood that Alpine has been considering a range of options, Ocon has taken to social media to reaffirm he will take part in the Montreal race and defend himself from the waves of criticism.

«Much has been said in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix,» the Frenchman wrote. «While I have received many messages of support, I have been deeply saddened by the amount of abuse and negativity that I have received online regarding my character, my driving, and my career.

«The misinformed statements and gross distortions that I have seen online in recent days about my ability to work with a team have been inaccurate, hurtful, and damaging.

«Since my first laps in motorsport, I have approached this sport with humility, professionalism, and respect. These values were instilled in me from a very young age.»

Esteban Ocon, Alpine

Esteban Ocon, Alpine

Photo by: Alpine

In a context where his reputation in the paddock is that of a driver who lacks team spirit, Ocon praised former and current partners Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Gasly, before admitting: «As team-mates, we would often start races very close to each other, which in some cases meant some tough battles on track, and sometimes contact.

«Of course, I have made honest mistakes. We are not robots; we are athletes pushing ourselves to the limit every day to achieve our dreams of winning races.»

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Ocon took this opportunity to reaffirm his respect for Gasly «as a team-mate and as a competitor», in the context of their well-documented rivalry.

«We have always worked collaboratively and professionally inside the team, and this will continue to be the case,» Ocon asserted.

Ocon’s full statement:

 





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Briatore tipped for Alpine F1 role amid Renault frustration

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Italian outlet Corriere della Serra and French newspaper L’Equipe have reported that the 74-year-old has been tapped up by Renault CEO Luca De Meo to become a special advisor to help the squad turn around its fortunes.

Reportedly, his role would entail helping the team’s recruitment drive to bolster its Enstone headquarters and its engine plant at Viry-Chatillon rather than a more hands-on role.

Alpine has declined to either confirm or deny Briatore’s arrival, issuing the following statement: «As a team, we are in frequent contact with a number of industry experts in pursuit of improving overall performance.

«We consider all relevant inputs and, when appropriate, seek advice from people with experience and previous success. We cannot comment on any individual matters.»

If Briatore’s arrival is confirmed, it is sure to cause some unease in certain quarters.

The former Benetton and Renault team principal, who was at the helm when Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso enjoyed their double championship wins with the squad, served a paddock ban for his leading role in the 2008 Singapore ‘Crashgate’ scandal.

Flavio Briatore and Fernando Alonso, Renault F1 Team celebrate victory in parc fermé

Flavio Briatore and Fernando Alonso, Renault F1 Team celebrate victory in parc fermé

Photo by: Rainer W. Schlegelmilch / Motorsport Images

That lifetime ban was overturned in 2013, with the Italian a regular visitor since then. He attended last week’s Monaco Grand Prix and was seen in the company of F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali before Sunday’s race.

Alpine has gone through a turbulent 10 months, starting with De Meo’s removal of brand CEO Laurent Rossi, quickly followed by the departure of team principal Otmar Szafnauer and long-time sporting director Alan Permane ahead of the 2023 Belgian Grand Prix weekend.

The team then went in a wrong design direction during the development of its 2024 challenger, which saw it start the season well off the pace after finishing sixth last year.

As a result, both technical director Matt Harman and head of aerodynamics Dirk de Beer left the outfit in March.

In their stead, interim team boss Bruno Famin created a McLaren-like three-pronged technical structure, snapping up the Woking outfit’s David Sanchez as its overarching tech chief.

Alpine has been making progress in recent weeks, moving from the rear of the grid to a position in the midfield where it can take the fight to the likes of Haas and Williams.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524

Photo by: Alpine

In Monaco, Pierre Gasly scored the team’s second point of the campaign, surviving a controversial clash with team-mate Esteban Ocon.

But there has been plenty of talk that Renault Group CEO De Meo remains frustrated with the team’s lack of results and is keen to shake things up further. Bringing back a controversial figure like Briatore would certainly do that.

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These rumours have surfaced in the wake of reports that several prospective buyers are interested in acquiring the Enstone team, including Chinese manufacturer Geely.

Alpine has always maintained the team is not for sale. «The rumours and stories about the team being for sale are false. The team is categorically not for sale,» it said last month.



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Alpine not ruling out F1 driver line-up change after latest Ocon Gasly clash

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The French manufacturer nearly had both its cars out of the Monaco Grand Prix early on after Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly collided on the exit of Portier on the opening lap of the original start.

Ocon had made an optimistic lunge down the inside of Gasly on the entry to the corner and, as they exited, they clashed wheels.

The incident pitched Ocon into the air and badly damaged his car as it crashed back down – putting him out of the race. Gasly was able to continue and went on to score his first point of the season with a 10th-place finish.

Ocon later took full blame for the incident and apologised to the team. He was subsequently handed a 10-second penalty by the FIA, which will be converted to a five-place grid penalty for his next race.

Team principal Bruno Famin was clearly far from impressed about what happened, and he vented his anger from the pit wall as Canal+ interviewed him live.

He said: “We have a lot of damage on the car. The left-rear suspension is bent, the gearbox casing is damaged. We’re changing the whole gearbox, it’s a huge amount of work.

“This kind of incident is sad, it’s exactly what we didn’t want to see. Esteban’s dive was completely out of place, it was exactly what we didn’t want to see, and there will be the appropriate consequences.”

Asked how serious his response would be, one English translation of his words was: “We’re going to take drastic action.”

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

That has been interpreted by some as a direct threat about benching Ocon, for one race or more, as punishment for what was felt to have been a needless collision.

However, the exact phrase Famin used in French – ‘trancher dans le vif” – is not something that can be translated directly to English.

What comes closest is ‘cut to the chase’ or ‘cut right into the core’ – and effectively means making a definite call to get something done properly.

Famin did not issue any further public remarks about his stance on the incident or the subsequent action, beyond the official team press release on Sunday night.

There he said: “As a team, we will review and manage the incident between both cars behind closed doors. We must avoid situations that have the potential to compromise the team.”

However, Autosport understands that Famin is fuming about what happened, and thinks that this latest collision is the final straw to a situation that has been bubbling away all season.

The team has been mindful since Bahrain that its competitive situation means it cannot let slip any opportunities to score points, so it has been instructing its drivers to take extra care when racing each other.

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

It seems such policy was in play in Monaco too, as Gasly revealed afterwards that the rear car was supposed to help the one ahead.

“We had clear instructions before the race on what to do, and whoever qualified ahead, the trailing car was supposed to help throughout the race,” he said. “That was the strategy. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”

Alarm bells have been ringing for a while though, as the pair battled ultra aggressively with each other on the opening lap of the Miami Grand Prix – where it was probably more through luck than skill that they did not actually make contact.

Having told the drivers after that incident to avoid such antics in the future, the fact that it has happened in a much worse way in Monaco has left Famin feeling that the situation cannot carry on as is.

No decision has been taken about what will be done, but it appears that he will do whatever it takes to guarantee no repeat in the future.

It is understood that a whole range of options are being considered – which could include financial penalties, team orders that totally prevent Ocon and Gasly fighting each other for position, or even the nuclear option: a change of driver line-up.

One other possibility could be for Alpine to go down the route that Mercedes did in 2016 after some worrying collisions between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg.

Back then Mercedes drafted up a code of conduct that both drivers agreed to abide by, and a clear warning that any indiscretion would likely result in a one-race ban being imposed.

It is understood that Famin spoke to both drivers after the Monaco GP, with Ocon clearly under the spotlight for having been the catalyst for the collision.

And it is not lost on Alpine’s senior management that the French driver has a history of troublesome times with team-mates that have resulted in contact – including with Fernando Alonso at the same team and Sergio Perez at Force India.

All eyes will now be on Enstone to see just how big a step it feels it needs to make to do what is best for the team.



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Alpenglow prototype will help determine costs of hydrogen Le Mans project

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Alpine stopped short of making a full commitment to the hydrogen ruleset that will be employed at the World Endurance Championship’s showpiece event from 2027 following the global reveal of its Alpenglow Hy4 — powered by a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine — at Spa earlier this month.

However, Famin acknowledged that what Alpine has dubbed its ‘rolling lab’ would serve an important purpose not only in adding to its competency in hydrogen, but also in helping to understand the ‘economic feasibility’ of racing with it.

«Hydrogen in Le Mans is a very great opportunity and we are happy with that, of course,» he said. «We have not decided yet if we will go, but that’s all the purpose of our Alpenglow concept, to learn more about hydrogen technologies, the ICE, but it’s also the filling, storage and so on.

«We want to know more; we want to improve our skills and our aero and we want also to know more about the costs.

«The more we know about the technology, we want to have an idea of where we go in terms of costs as well.

«To present a project to the board, you need to have a quite clear idea of what you can achieve for how much and it’s doing this project, it’s also knowing more about feasibility, technical feasibility and economical feasibility.»

GR H2 Racing Concept

GR H2 Racing Concept

Photo by: Toyota Racing

The Alpenglow reveal followed Toyota’s launch of a hydrogen prototype concept at Le Mans last year, as momentum behind hydrogen continues to build.

Innovation manager for Le Mans organiser the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Bernard Niclot, told Motorsport.com that Alpine’s public display of its interest in hydrogen «gives some momentum and gives some legitimacy» to its long-held conviction of hydrogen’s potential.

«More and more we see that H2 especially in endurance is the right way to go,» said Niclot.
«I will joke, but we don’t force them to do these developments and they do it; it means that we are on the right way I think, it’s the best proof this.»

ACO President Pierre Fillon has predicted that multiple manufacturers will be engaged by 2029.

Asked if a hydrogen combustion car could win Le Mans as soon as 2027, Famin replied that it would depend on what the regulations stipulate. These remain a work in progress.

Plans to demonstrate the Hy4, which is currently fitted with a turbocharged 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder engine, at Spa were thwarted by an electronic failure that meant it was unable to start.

Alpine says the car has done 700km in testing, and a new V6 engine is under development with a stated target of being introduced before the end of the year.

French constructor ORECA has collaborated with Alpine on its hydrogen combustion project for the past three years, and technical director Remi Taffin said that this cooperation will continue following the completion of a factory move to larger premises at Paul Ricard.

While clear that racing with hydrogen at Le Mans is at the forefront of ORECA’s plans, Taffin says a partnership with a large automotive manufacturer will be desirable.

«The whole purpose of ORECA, developing this technology, is we want to be there [on the grid at Le Mans],» he said. «[Alpenglow] is a perfect example of what we are able to do when we get embedded with a manufacturer programme.

«It’s fair to say that it’s huge investments [involved], so that’s really efficient when we can work this way. Whatever it will take, we will be there.»

Alpine Alpenglow Hy4

Alpine Alpenglow Hy4

Photo by: Alpine

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