Until the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
Despite constant talks about their tense long-term relationship, Alpine teammates in Formula 1, Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, have not had many major conflicts. However, their collision at the Monaco Grand Prix seems to have changed everything. In this article, our team discusses the implications of the accident, team boss Bruno Famin’s reaction, and the drivers’ prospects.
The Alpine driver lineup has always been volatile, making it a challenging situation to manage over the past year and a half. However, it seems that this will no longer be a problem for the team. As the Formula 1 rumor mill season unfolds, Ocon has been linked to a move away from Alpine, while Gasly has not. It is widely expected that Gasly will continue with the team in 2025, possibly with a new teammate. The unsustainable nature of their partnership is evident, with previous collisions and conflicts leading to the crash in Monaco, which left the team deeply upset.
During the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix, the Alpine drivers collided, resulting in Ocon’s car taking off at Portier. Gasly suggested that there was a prior agreement to prioritize the car that qualified ahead, implying that Ocon broke this agreement. While it is unfair to blame Ocon entirely, as race circumstances are unpredictable, his actions on the first lap immediately drew criticism from team boss Famin. Famin, in his emotional reaction, placed the blame solely on Ocon and threatened consequences. The team now faces the challenge of deciding how to respond, with options ranging from benching Ocon to implementing internal measures.
Regardless of the short-term consequences, it is clear that this partnership between teammates is not sustainable in the long run. This incident is not an isolated event and Ocon has not always been the aggressor. However, the tension between them has become too great, with frequent clashes and negative consequences. It is highly unlikely that this partnership will continue beyond 2025.
Gasly was emphatic in his criticism of Ocon’s move on the first lap of the Monaco Grand Prix. Despite scoring a point for Alpine, Gasly believed the team could have achieved more and had both cars finishing in the points zone. He argued that there was no reason to take such a risk when they were already in a strong team position. Gasly also mentioned the pre-race discussions that established an agreement between the drivers, emphasizing that the driver who qualified ahead would receive priority in terms of strategy. Gasly expressed disappointment with Ocon’s move, stating that it was unnecessary and went against the agreed strategy. He stood in solidarity with the rest of the team, highlighting the importance of scoring points and ensuring that such incidents do not happen again.
Initially, Ocon considered the incident as an unfortunate part of a chaotic first lap, stating that mistakes happen. However, he later apologized on social media, taking responsibility for the collision. Ocon’s penalty for the incident was considered deserved, although the wording of the stewards was a bit confusing. The main issue was that Ocon did not leave enough space for Gasly on the exit, which resulted in the penalty. Despite the confusion, the penalty was justified and Ocon accepted the consequences.
The reputation of Esteban Ocon for getting involved in fights with teammates has become a significant part of his history in F1. However, it is important to note that he is not automatically the troublemaker or instigator of these conflicts. In the past, team bosses rarely pointed to Ocon as the sole responsible for disputes on track with his teammates. However, in this case, the blame falls entirely on him for the move on Gasly. Although the move may have seemed possible in theory, in the context of the team’s internal dynamics, it was an outrageous maneuver that would inevitably result in serious consequences for both drivers.
Bruno Famin’s anger and disappointment are completely understandable. Until this incident, Ocon had been one of the few bright spots in Alpine’s challenging season.
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Portugal wins the Eurocup final in an exciting match
The Portugal national team secured victory in the Eurocup final in an exciting match against France. With a goal in the last minute of the second half, Portugal managed to overcome the French team and secure the title.
The game started with France dominating possession and creating several goal-scoring opportunities. However, it was Portugal who opened the scoring with a beautiful shot from outside the box. The French team did not falter and equalized the game shortly after.
During the second half, both teams continued to fight for the winning goal. France had several chances to score, but the Portuguese defense proved solid and managed to hold on to the draw. When everything seemed to be heading towards extra time, Portugal scored the winning goal in stoppage time, sending the fans into a frenzy.
With this victory, Portugal becomes the European Championship winner for the second time. The team had already won the title in 2016 and now adds another star to its shirt. The Portuguese players celebrated the conquest greatly and were welcomed with a party by the fans.
The coach of the Portuguese national team praised the performance of his players and highlighted the team’s determination to seek victory until the last minute. He also emphasized the importance of teamwork and unity among the players.
The Eurocopa final was marked by a lot of emotion and high-level football. Both teams showed great performance and provided a spectacle for the fans. Now, Portugal celebrates another title and consolidates itself as one of the powers of European football.
