Daniel Ricciardo said Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly’s coming together at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix stoked memories of his infamous Red Bull clash with Max Verstappen at Baku in 2018.
Ocon drew criticism from Alpine team-mate Gasly and Team Principal Bruno Famin alike with his unsuccessful lunge on the #10 car at Portier on the opening lap of Sunday’s GP.
Ocon went against team protocol in his ill-fated attempt to pass Gasly and rumours abound that the Frenchman could be benched next time out for the indiscretion.
Ricciardo, who was close behind the pair before the incident, noted how the two Alpines touched wheels multiple times before the crash, reminiscent of his crash with Verstappen six years ago.
“Man, they [Gasly and Ocon] were… There was wheel touching I feel like three times before that happened,” Ricciardo told media on Sunday.
“Honestly, it reminded me of Baku 2018 where obviously Max and I, we touched I think twice or three times before the accident.
“Obviously that one brewed in a lot shorter amount of time, but I could see it happening where I was like ‘Okay, I feel like tension is rising very quickly’.
“Sometimes with team-mates, it sparks even more.
“When I saw it happen, I wasn’t surprised because it felt like none of them wanted to give in and they were having a strongarm competition.
“I’m sure the team is not… I know how that one goes, so I’m sure they’re not happy.”
Ricciardo’s crash with Verstappen at Baku came amid a developing power shift within the Milton Keynes-based squad’s driver line-up.
With Verstappen’s stock rising, it was not long after the two came together in Azerbaijan that Ricciardo sought a new challenge, signing with Renault for the 2019 season.
In the present, both Ocon and Gasly are on expiring deals with Alpine and both a reported options for rival teams.
It is increasingly likely that at least one of the drivers will suit up in different colours in 2025 and with the driver market already in full swing, personal gains could be put ahead of team objectives.
Ocon in particular has been reported as a target of either Haas or Sauber and the Hinwil-based outfit has listed both Alpine drivers as ones of interest should its pursuit of Carlos Sainz fail to come to fruition.
