“At the moment we are not mixing the two series”- Alpine denies the possibility of giving Fernando Alonso the third Le Mans victory.
Fernando Alonso won two consecutive Le Mans titles in 2018 and 2019, and with Alpine initiating its project in Le Mans for 2021 (earlier planned for 2020 but delayed due to COVID-19), aroused the speculations of Alonso playing a part in the historic race in 2021.
But Alpine has outrightly rejected this possibility for 2021, as they claim that Alonso will only be focusing on Formula 1 this year, and Alpine has proposed no crossover between two motorsports.
“At the moment, they are focused on Formula 1 and only on Formula 1,” said Rossi of Alonso and Ocon, quoted by Motorsport-total.com. “That is a lot of work.
“We are not ruling out the possibility that some of them might pull out under certain circumstances at some point, but at the moment, we are not mixing the two series.”
“We cannot afford to create something like a distraction for the drivers. If it turns out to be feasible, we could consider it, but that’s not the plan today.”
Esteban Ocon not averse
Obviously, Alpine would have preferred deputing Alonso for the Le Mans project instead of Ocon if such an opportunity had arrived. Still, the French national also hasn’t shown his aversion to joining Le Mans.
“It’s not the plan at the moment. Our target is definitely Formula 1, and 200% of that. But yes, if the opportunity comes one day, and then we discuss it, the plan, with Alpine, then maybe, but it’s not what we are focusing on now.”
Le Mans 2021 was earlier planned to be held on June 12-13, clashing with the Canadian Grand Prix, but now has been shifted to August 21-22, the last weekend of the F1 summer break. The first F1 Grand Prix will be on the 28th of March.
