Ocon’s role in Gasly’s Q2 exit was almost another ‘flare-up’ at Alpine

Alpine team principal Oliver Oakes admitted Pierre Gasly was “disgruntled” over his team mate’s role in his elimination from qualifying in Q2 at the last round in Brazil.

However Oakes said the pair showed their class as drivers by claiming a valuable double podium finish for the team in treacherous conditions.

Ocon claimed the team’s best starting position for a grand prix this year, taking fourth place after reaching Q3 in a rain-affected session. However his team mate did not accompany him as his last attempt at a time in Q2 was disrupted when Ocon overtook him moments beforehand.

Gasly and Ocon sat at the bottom of the times when Q2 restarted after a disruption caused by Carlos Sainz Jnr’s crash. Gasly followed Max Verstappen around on their out-lap but was held up when the Red Bull driver slowed at the last significant corner, Juncao, as he sought the best possible conditions for his lap.

But Ocon, following behind them, seized the opportunity to pass both and ensure he benefited from the cleared road ahead. Gasly was unable to improve his time and was eliminated, along with Verstappen, both falling foul of another red flag caused by Lance Stroll moments later.

Ocon’s tactics irritated both drivers including his team mate, said Oakes. “I think the Brazil Q2 race to get a lap, that could have probably flared up,” he told the official F1 channel. “But at the end of the day, in those situations, there’s always more to it.

“Esteban did his job, I think Max was disgruntled as well as Pierre, it wasn’t just one driver. At the end of the day, he made into Q3 so from my point of view, it’s just making sure they know what you’re going to accept and what you’re not.”

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Alpine’s two drivers have had several clashes during and prior to their time as team mates, notably in Monaco this year, following which the team announced Ocon will leave them at the end of the season. But Oakes, the former Hitech team principal who took charge of Alpine in September, said he is pleased by the professionalism the pair have shown.

“I wouldn’t take credit for it because, in a nice way, they’re adults themselves, at the end of the day, I think probably they’ve been tarnished a little bit wrong – well, not wrong because obviously there has…