Alonso confirmed at Alpine in 2022, a new snub to young drivers?

The announcement was expected, or even already heard, but Alpine wanted to make the announcement again: Fernando Alonso will always drive for the French brand Alpine in 2022. A logical contract renewal if we look at the performances of the double world champion. Although he has not won a Grand Prix, or been on a podium since his return to Bahrain, the Asturian Bull is only a small point behind his teammate Esteban Ocon. But above all, this announcement has the gift of sending a very bad message to young drivers. Alpine, which had already been extended to three years a few weeks ago.

For the first time since his return in 2016, Alpine, Formerly Renault, will have the same driver duo for two seasons in a row. Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso will drive the car French during the 2022 season. Stability at the level of the drivers in order to best take the turn of the new regulations which should allow Alpine to play at the forefront in the years to come. This season, Alonso is back after two years of absence away from the paddocks of Formula 1. Although he experienced some difficulties during the first four rounds, we feel that the Spaniard is gradually getting his bearings and regaining his “grinta” of yesteryear. He is notably one of the instigators of Esteban Ocon's victory in Hungary, retaining a Lewis Hamilton supersonic driving his Mercedes for around ten laps.

“I am very happy to confirm my contract extension with Alpine for season 2022, affirms the main person concerned. I feel at home since my return to this team. It is a pleasure to work with the staff again at Enstone and Viry-Chatillon. We are progressing little by little in this season with the highlight being the result in Hungary. The 2022 season will be a big change for our sport and I look forward to starting this new era alongside Esteban Ocon at Alpine. The 2022 change is one of the goals of my return to F1. That's why I stay with Alpine. I’m very happy with the team and they’re happy with the work I’m doing.”

The Alonso / Ocon pair works (for the moment) and has allowed Alpine to win his first Grand Prix since 2008 in Japan. The choice to keep the Asturian Bull therefore seems logical, a few weeks after the extension of Esteban Ocon's contract for three seasons. But the happiness of one often causes the unhappiness of others.
Because behind, the next generation is growing. Like all teams, Alpine has talented young drivers, asking only one thing: to have the opportunity to become a starter in F1. But obviously, by extending Fernando Alonso until 2022, and Esteban Ocon until 2024, the young people of the academy, if they wish to access F1, will have to wait at least a year. 

This battle was everything.

Old rivals @alo_oficial and @LewisHamilton put on an incredible show on Sunday ⚔️#HungarianGP ?? #F1 pic.twitter.com/LGqPXTU1VR

- Formula 1 (@ F1) August 1

What future for the pilots of theAlpine Academy?

A necessarily damaging situation. Especially when we know that the nursery Alpine is certainly the most talented. There are five of them, in different categories, but they all hope for the same thing: access to a starting seat in Formula 1. Two drivers, moreover, are currently fighting for the title in the Formula XNUMX championship. Formula 2 : Oscar piastri et Guanyu-Zhou. Two men with different trajectories. Guanyu Zhou (Uni-Virtuosi) is currently second in the drivers' standings with 103 points in his third season in F2. A solid driver, especially endowed with interesting financial resources who would normally convince a good number of teams.

On the other hand, Oscar Piastri is achieving a feat that very few have achieved before him: the 20-year-old Australian was champion in Formula Renault Eurocup in 2019, champion of Formula 3 from his debut season in 2020 and he currently leads the Formula 2 championship with 108 points, as he contests his maiden campaign. Imagine if he won the championship... he would most certainly walk away... Piastri and Zhou are accompanied in F2 by Christian Lundgaard. The Dane is participating in his second F2 season with the ART Grand Prix team and is in twelfth place in the drivers' standings, very far from his teammate Theo Pourchaire. Lundgaard also tested himself at theIndycar during the round in Indianapolis. Perhaps a possible clue to his future in motorsport.

“Indycar is a great championship, very competitive, with serious participants, declared Davide Brivio, Race Director at Alpine F1 Team before the meeting in Indianapolis. Christian Lundgaard is an important driver of theAlpine Academy and he has demonstrated enormous prowess throughout his career.” Before continuing: “After two seasons in Formula 2, we are evaluating different options for the rest of his career. Regarding Indycar, we are focusing on the present and I'm sure Christian will like it. I can't wait to see him in the race! ». For his first race, Christian Lundgaard finished in twelfth position with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. A performance that did not go unnoticed.

The situation also has consequences for other drivers, who are not necessarily aiming for a seat in F1 next year. This is the case of French driver Victor Martins and Caio Collet, who are participating in the Formula 3 championship. Martins is currently in seventh place with three meetings to go before the end of the season while Collet is in tenth position.
A waiting posture, not the easiest to manage, whether as a pilot but also as a manager. With Ocon's multi-year contract and now the renewal of Alonso's contract, the timing is not conducive to climbing into the higher categories. A state of affairs which could push the two men to repeat a season in Formula 3, rather than moving directly to Formula 2. It remains to be seen whatAlpine has planned for its young pilots. 

.@lundgaardoff is making a statement in his first INDYCAR qualifying.

?: NBCSN
? INDYCAR App: https://t.co/vyuISIgHnX#INDYCAR // @IMS // #BigMachineGP pic.twitter.com/1xGXXA155u

- NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) August 13