Alpine Formula 1 chief Bruno Famin disclosed that preliminary contract discussions had begun with its drivers before the news broke that Lewis Hamilton will be joining Ferrari in 2025.
The upcoming season will mark a historic moment for the sport as the driver line-ups from the previous campaign will remain unchanged heading into the new one.
However, the driver market for 2025 has already been shaken up with the revelation that Hamilton will be driving for Ferrari next season.
This has created an opening at Mercedes, with current Alpine driver Esteban Ocon being considered as a potential option due to his existing connections with the German team.
Both Ocon and his teammate Pierre Gasly have contracts that expire at the end of this year, but Famin insists that the Enstone-based team is content with its current driver pairing.
“We have not waited for Hamilton’s move to Ferrari to engage in conversations with our drivers. We are currently in talks with them,” Famin revealed at the launch of Alpine’s 2024 challenger.
“I am very pleased with the relationship we have with them, the level of communication, and the work they are doing. We are satisfied with our drivers.
“Of course, we will keep an eye on the driver market. We also have our driver academy, and it is our responsibility to stay informed about what is happening.”
However, Famin emphasized that a decision regarding the future of either driver is not imminent, as Alpine is focused on bouncing back from a challenging previous season.
“We are working on it, but there is no decision yet. Our priority is to concentrate on developing the car and the team, and we have confidence in our drivers,” he added.
“They know our thoughts, they also understand how Formula 1 operates. There is no deceit, which is why regular communication is important, to discuss everything openly.
“Once again, I believe we are happy with them. Let’s wait for the first race and see how the car performs. But I understand that they are content with the team, so we can discuss their future a bit later.”
In addition to unveiling the A524, Alpine also presented the car that Mercedes F1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher will drive in the World Endurance Championship.
When asked about Ocon’s association with Mercedes, Famin was quick to mention Schumacher’s connection to the brand but admitted uncertainty about whether the German driver is being considered to partner George Russell in 2025.
“I don’t know if he has a potential opportunity, you should ask Toto [Wolff, Mercedes Team Principal]!” Famin exclaimed. “To be honest, I am not sure if he is on the list. Let’s discuss that later.”