Formula 1 team could let both of their drivers go at the end of 2024 and ‘play the market’

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Nearly every Formula 1 team will be examining their options during the 2024 season and Alpine could end up letting both of their drivers go at the end of the campaign.

Esteban Ocon has been with the French outfit since their days as Renault in 2020, while Pierre Gasly joined ahead of the 2023 season from AlphaTauri.

Now, journalist Lawrence Barretto, writing on the Formula 1 website, has examined the team’s options going forward.

There were a few raised eyebrows when it was announced that Ocon and Gasly would be teammates going into last season.

It’s well known that they’re not always on the best terms and that was exasperated by their collision in Australia.

If the pair had managed to avoid each other then they would have been on for a bumper points haul.

Instead, they had to settle for nothing and that ended up being an early indicator of where the team’s fortunes lay.

Both drivers achieved a single podium in 2023 but that was very much an outlier as opposed to a position they were regularly challenging for.

Now, Alpine could let both drivers go at the end of 2024 as they examine the market and see what other options are available.

It would be a surprise for Gasly to depart after just two years, especially as the number of available seats at quicker teams is set to be very limited.

Alpine could let both drivers go at the end of 2024

Writing about the future of the French team, Barretto said: “Alpine are in the midst of an overhaul, having lost a string of senior management last year – the majority of whom will have made the calls to recruit both Ocon and Gasly – and while those now in charge are believed to be happy with what their driver line-up delivered in 2023, they will play the market given how many good drivers are potentially available.”

Gasly admitted towards the end of last season that he and his teammate were both fighting for their careers in F1.

Ocon also had to explain a radio message he sent during the Las Vegas Grand Prix where it sounded like he was told not to overtake his teammate but did so anyway.

Alpine will have plenty of drivers potentially at their disposal at the end of 2024, but they will have to improve if they want to be at the team at the top of their chosen target’s list.

Esteban Ocon is reportedly on the radar of Audi ahead of their entry into F1.

Gasly hasn’t been linked with another drive thus far but would like to have a few available options should be let go.