The Alpine Formula 1 team wants to put an end to the rumors from Mercedes and extend Esteban Ocon’s contract in order to keep the line-up constant until 2022.
The former Mercedes junior driver has surpassed his team-mate, double world champion Fernando Alonso, and outperformed him 3-1 in Renault’s own team this season.
After returning from a year as a Mercedes reserve driver, he took his debut podium, a second place, with the Renault team at the time in Bahrain last season.
The Frenchman left Mercedes last season to take a seat at Renault, but has since been linked to a possible move to the seven-time champions.
Laurent Rossi, Alpine CEO, said Thursday that they had discussions with Ocon’s management team ahead of the new season and were keen to keep him on the Enstone team.
ONLY IN:
Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes director agree on Monaco concerns
“But,” he added, “until then, our full support goes to Valtteri and Lewis.
“We will check in the middle of the year whether something will change in 2022. It is certainly too early to talk about scenarios for 2022 now.”
However, Hamilton recently admitted he wants to start contract negotiations soon and has set the deadline for the F1 summer break in August. Wolff adds that they are hoping to sign the seven-time champion on a multi-year contract.
The post F1-News: Alpine F1 team wants to trump Mercedes in the Esteban Ocon battle around 2022 | F1 | Sports first appeared on monter-une-startup.
