“It’s disappointing, it’s actually bad. This year ended up starting with a flawed performance and flawed delivery.” These were the words of Alpine’s CEO, Laurent Rossi, publicly slamming the Alpine F1 team led by Otmar Szafnauer. This criticism was followed by the team’s poor run of performances in the opening rounds of this season. When these comments were making the rounds on social media, the team failed to score in two of the four races, including the double crash in Australia. Now, it’s Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s turn to hit back.

Then, Otmar Szafnauer called these comments unacceptable and amateurish. Certainly, the team, carrying great potential as displayed early on, has a bigger chance for redemption. With them having been termed the best of the rest, the drivers will have a daunting task to prove their worth to the team’s CEO after their P8 and P9 finish in Miami.

Looking at Pierre Gasly and Co.’s chances for the race, Tom Clarkson appears optimistic. On the F1 Nation podcast, Clarkson analyzed the team’s chances in Monaco, saying, “As for Alpine, this is the first time they’ve been racing as a team since Laurent Rossi, the CEO, came out in the media criticizing the team, every aspect of the team, calling them dilettante, calling them amateurish. And so they will be wanting to set the record straight.”

“The car, funnily enough, is a good car. It is good through the slow corners. It’s a bit draggy, but of course, Monaco doesn’t require efficiency in a straight line. So, Pierre Gasly, Esteban Ocon, it’s as close to a home race that those two guys get, as close to a home race that the team gets in terms of Alpeen and all the guys at Viry-Châtillon in Paris. So it’s a huge weekend for them. And Otmar Szafnauer will be wanting them to silence the criticism.”

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Alpine, despite plenty of promises, only stands sixth, tied with McLaren at 14 points. With Otmar’s job believed to be on the line following the early disasters, the chance for redemption is in Monaco to get things right.

How have Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon been in Monaco?

Monaco presents Alpine with a real opportunity to grab some crucial points. But have drivers performed well in the past to capitalize enough this time around? Let’s look at the numbers for both drivers.

Pierre Gasly has been pretty impressive when it comes to his drives in Monaco. In F1, the French driver has finished thrice in points in four different editions, with P5 being the highest in 2019. On the other hand, his teammate has finished twice in the top 10 in four drives at the Monaco GP.

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Of the two, Pierre Gasly appears to have a better chance to score some points. But can he deliver a majestic performance like the 2020 Monza? Or will Ocon surprise, as he did in the 2021 Hungary GP? Let’s wait and find out.