Guenther Steiner stated that Alpine should explore all possibilities before selecting Mick Schumacher as Esteban Ocon’s replacement.
Currently, Alpine faces challenges both on and off the track. An incident involving Ocon and a teammate in the recent race caused tensions within the Enstone-based team. Rumors suggest that the French team is considering alternative options for Ocon’s position in 2025. However, former Haas F1 boss Steiner stated that the Renault factory team should not hire Schumacher.
Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut under Steiner’s guidance at Haas. However, the German driver faced significant criticism from various sources over two seasons before being replaced in 2023. When asked if Alpine should hire Schumacher for the upcoming season, Steiner promptly refused. It is worth noting that Mick Schumacher currently competes for Alpine in the World Endurance Championship.
According to Guenther Steiner, a factory team like Alpine should strive to secure the most talented driver available on the grid. The former Haas boss possibly referred to drivers like [driver names] who have not yet secured seats for the 2025 season, despite winning races.
In 2023, Alpine brought in [driver’s name] to partner with Esteban Ocon after [another driver’s name] decided to join Aston Martin. The all-French driver lineup seemed ideal for a French team. However, Gasly and Ocon have a complicated relationship dating back to their karting days.
Guenther Steiner suggested that either of the two drivers should have acknowledged their reluctance to race side by side. The Italo-American emphasized the history between their families and stated that Alpine should never have hired both drivers together in the first place.
According to reports, Alpine will replace Esteban Ocon next season. There were speculations that Ocon could be released before the Canadian Grand Prix. However, after the 27-year-old driver’s public apology, it seems that the French team is prepared to continue the season with their current pair of drivers.
