F2 star ahead of 21-year-old academy driver to race for Alpine if Gasly or Ocon leave

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Alpine could apparently hire another French driver if either Esteban Ocon or Pierre Gasly leave at the end of the season.

Both Ocon and Gasly are out of contract this year and Alpine are last in the championship after two races.

Journalist Fred Ferret, speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, believes a fellow countryman is waiting in the wings if either decide to go.

Gasly retired from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a gearbox problem and acknowledged that the team are in the midst of a ‘very difficult’ time.

Alpine are in a state of disarray on and off the race track, with several key figures leaving since last summer.

They include team principal Otmar Szafnauer, sporting director Alan Permane and chief technical officer Pat Fry.

F1 expert Gary Anderson say it appears as if they are ‘internally exploding’ at present.

Victor Martins could edge Jack Doohan for Alpine seat

Ferret, a journalist for L’Equipe, thinks Victor Martins is the likeliest internal replacement if Gasly or Ocon seek a way out.

Alpine’s reserve driver is currently 21-year-old Jack Doohan, who won six Formula 2 races across two seasons and finished third in the 2023 championship.

However, another driver on their books is the Frenchman Victor Martins, still racing in F2 this year with ART.

Having won a race and taken nine podiums en route to fifth in the standings last term, he’s yet to score a point this year.

But Ferret has backed him to edge Doohan if he delivers and Alpine look to promote from within.

“I would bet more on Victor Martins [than Jack Doohan] if he performs in F2,” he said.

“It would be stupid to get rid of the two drivers.”

Will Ocon or Gasly leave Alpine?

Both Alpine drivers know that there may be opportunities elsewhere on the 2025 grid, with more than half the current field out of contract.

Lewis Hamilton’s shock switch to Ferrari is expected to trigger a reshuffle across the pack.

Gasly is only in his second year with the team after joining from AlphaTauri, while Ocon is in his fifth after his 2020 arrival.

Ocon may hope to force his way into contention for the vacant Mercedes seat given his links to the team.

He used to be part of the Silver Arrows’ driver academy and was their reserve driver in 2019.

Like his compatriot, Gasly is a Grand Prix winner, but he was dropped by Red Bull midway through the season five years ago.