Alpine told pairing Gasly and Ocon 'cannot work' as son of motorcycle icon is put forward

dailystar.co.uk:

Formula 1’s Contract Recognition Board (CRB) this week.Alpine have reportedly given up hope of keeping Piastri, but are challenging his McLaren deal in the hope of securing compensation which could then be used to prise Pierre Gasly away from the Red Bull stable.READ MORE: Toto Wolff warns Oscar Piastri of ‘karma’ amid McLaren and Alpine dispute Gasly has a contract with sister team AlphaTauri for next year but Red Bull are said to be open to letting him leave their driver programme.

If that happens, it could see Gasly paired with old karting rival Esteban Ocon in what could be an explosive partnership. The duo were friends as youngsters but it is well known in the F1 paddock that their relationship turned sour.Speaking in 2018, Gasly said: “I started to beat him and he didn’t like it so we’re not friends anymore.” Pundit and former F1 driver Marc Surer is sure the link-up, if it happens, will lead to fireworks. “Two French [drivers] together, it cannot work,” he told the F1 Nation Podcast. “I think they already have a history racing against each other.

It will not work well but for Alpine it should not matter if they like each other or not. We had Prost and Senna as well in the same team [at McLaren in the late 1980s].” Who should Alpine sign for 2023?

Have your say in the comments section below. And Surer, who raced for Brabham and Arrows during his seven-year F1 career, is not convinced Gasly is Alpine-bound, suggesting rising Formula 2 star Jack Doohan could get the seat instead.