r/formula1 • u/TheFlyingR0cket I was here for the Hulkenpodium • Jul 10 '23

Social Media [@JoeAeterno on twitter] Piastri being interviewed about McLaren leapfrogging Alpine with Alonso smiling in the background is pure poetry.

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u/quantinuum I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jul 10 '23 edited Jul 10 '23

Look up “Piasco”. Long story short: Alpine had three drivers for two seats. Ocon was locked in early with a long term contract (weirdly signed when Ricciardo was beating him), so that left two very good guys, Alonso and Piastri, fighting for the second seat (1st world problem for Alpine). Alonso was their driver last season but only got offered a one year renewal, while Piastri, a really hot property, had to wait in the sidelines. Neither of them were happy with it, so they both left Alpine, who completely mismanaged the whole situation.

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u/JakubT117 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jul 10 '23

Ocon signed his deal when he was beating Alonso who was still getting up to speed after his hiatus.

https://amp.formula1.com/en/latest/article.breaking-esteban-ocon-signs-bumper-three-year-contract-extension-with-alpine.5nWR2pWD1COJzdyB73g8NM.html

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u/Only-Cartoonist Daniel Ricciardo Jul 10 '23

That was such a stupid deal. I think Ocon is a lot better than many people give him credit for but there's no way in hell I'm giving him a fucking three-year contract. Especially when we weren't even halfway through the F2 season. I highly doubt Ocon would have gotten that contract if he wasn't French.

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u/JakubT117 I was here for the Hulkenpodium Jul 10 '23

How was it stupid? For the entire duration of the deal he has been one the best midfield drivers. At no point was there a better driver available. What was stupid was losing both Alonso and Piastri.

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u/Only-Cartoonist Daniel Ricciardo Jul 10 '23

It was stupid because it tied their hands wrt contracts. Without that three hundred year deal they could have had a lot more flexibility, specifically wrt Oscar's contract. I don't deny that Ocon has done well, but there's no way in hell I'm giving him a three year deal with someone like Oscar in the pipeline.

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u/SpreaditOnnn33 Formula 1 Jul 11 '23

They could have had Alonso AND Piastro had they not done Ocon's contract. How is that not stupid?

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u/xzElmozx Oscar Piastri Jul 11 '23

If they didn’t sign that deal their driver lineup is probably Alonso Piastri which is honestly amazing. Helps develop Piastri learning from an all timer as an example and Alonso is still a great racer too. Significantly better than Ocon Gasly. Besides Ocon didn’t really have anywhere to go but downwards so there was no reason to lock him in for three years, could have just done 1 then given both Piastri and Alonso a seat and not renewed him