Both young Frenchmen, they had graduated together from aspiri𓆏ng dreamers to F1 drivers.

But, historically, their relationship had occasional🎀ly been r💃ocky.

And, last year, Ocon’s relationship wiꦫth thᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚen-teammate Fernando Alonso was a hot topic.

“I think it’s okay and it’s not okay,” French newspa💃per L’Equipe’s journalist Fred Ferret tolꦺd .

“They are two tough drivers w🔜ho have known each other since they were born.

“They started karting🐭 together when they wer♔e three.

“They know each other’s every trick. They know how to 🐟behave in💖 the team.

“Their parents were friends.

“It’s… difficult.

“F꧋or Esteban it muܫst be tough to be a long-time part of the Alpine team, and to see a new guy come in and be in front of him.

“He’s a real competitor and he can’t accept that.

“He w🍃orked like hell🌌 when he was the teammate of Fernando Alonso. He tried to be at the level of Fernando, and he managed to do it.

“Pierre is now 16 point🎀s ahead with two races to go.

“It’s impossible [without] a miracle podium.”

Alpine will finish sixth in the F1 constructors’🐎 championship this year.

They sacked ✃team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane this season, while chief technical officer Pat Fry left for Williams.

CEO Laurent Rossi🎃 was the🙈n axed and replaced by Renault executive Philippe Krief.

“Even if the results are not the best, that they were expecting, it was a good year,” Ferret s♕aid.

“They decided to make a huge change in the team.

“It was c🌠haotic with the big boss sacked, the t🐓eam principal sacked.

🀅“If you speak inside the team, the atmosphere has reaཧlly changed.

“Everyone is coming together,🌞 more than before. “There is less pressure.

“Now, they are working on a new platform and hop🃏ing for the best for next year.”