Esteban Ocon has been warned by Alpine boss Otmar Szafnauer that he wants to consider the larger image when racing towards his team-mates.
There will likely be popcorn on standby for a lot of as we watch the F1 2023 season unfold, simply in case issues do get a bit bit heated between Ocon and his outdated foe/new team-mate Pierre Gasly.
The rivalry between the French drivers goes all the best way again to their karting days collectively however these uneven waters have calmed through the years.
It will likely be fascinating to see if there may be any lingering pressure between the duo and one situation that might draw it out is an on-track conflict.
Ocon isn’t any stranger to fierce battles along with his team-mates (simply ask Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez) and, with that in thoughts, the Alpine boss has had a number of phrases with Ocon to ensure he totally understands the staff sport.
“He must most likely make higher judgements when his staff mates are subsequent to him, since you don’t win it on the primary lap, team-mate or not,” Szafnauer mentioned, as quoted by Motorsport.com.
“And in the event you’re aggressive towards a competitor, and also you each exit, you each lose. Should you’re aggressive towards the teammate, and also you each exit, guess who loses? So it’s simply that higher judgement, and get them later.
“If we’d like reminders, I’m blissful to remind him.”
Szafnauer, although, could not want to fret about an excessively aggressive Ocon this yr. The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner feels that the construction at Alpine has put him in considerably of a tranquil state.
“I went to Enstone for the primary time in 2010, so 12 years in the past, and it’s loopy, I’ve seen numerous change,” Ocon mentioned to Motorsport.com.
“We’re clearly settled for a very long time, which feels nice. We’ve nice management with Otmar, with Laurent [Rossi, Alpine CEO], with Luca. I feel it’s a implausible staff.
“They’re giving us optimistic strain. It’s not the unhealthy strain, you’ll want to carry out in any other case it will be over. It’s fully totally different. It’s the fervour of racing, of motorsport.
“Since Laurent, Luca and Otmar have joined, I really feel undoubtedly extra relaxed and I really feel good. That’s why I ought to be tremendous calm.”
Esteban Ocon v Pierre Gasly: A match made in heaven or hell?
Ocon might be feeling “tremendous calm” however, over the course of a gruelling 23-race (or perhaps 24) season, that may rapidly change. All it takes is one on-track incident between the 2 earlier than an outdated rivalry is probably reignited.
This team-mate battle not too long ago featured in one of many 5 intra-team battles we’re most trying ahead to in F1 2023 and it’s most likely sitting on the very prime of listing, too.
The choice made by Alpine to accomplice these two up may both go very properly or very unsuitable. It’s arduous to think about there will likely be any in-between.
Study extra: The total background on the Ocon v Gasly rivalry