Both you🐷ng Frenchmen, they had graduated together from aspiring dreamers to F1 drivers.

But, historically, their relationship had occasionally♑ been rocky.

And, last year, 🅷Ocon’s relationship with then-teammate Fernando Alonso was a hot topic.

𓄧“I think it’s okay and it’s not okay,” F♔rench newspaper L’Equipe’s journalist Fred Ferret told .

“They are two tough drive🐻rs who have known each other since they were bor🎃n.

“T🐟hey started karting together when they were three.

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

“Their parents were friends.

“It’s… difficult.

“For Esteban it must be tough to be a long-time part of the Alpine team, and to see a new guy come iꦰn and be in front of ꧂him.

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

“He wor💫ked like hell when he was the teammate of Fernando Alonso. He tried to be at the level of Fernando, anꦏd he managed to do it.

“Pierre i𝐆s now 16 points ahead with two races to go.

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

Alpine will finish si🌠xth in the F1 constructors’ championship this year.

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

CEO Laurent ♏Rossi was then axed and replaced b𝐆y Renault executive Philippe Krief.

“Even🎐 if the results are n♉ot the best, that they were expecting, it was a good year,” Ferret said.

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

“It was chaotic൲ with the big bo♈ss sacked, the team principal sacked.

“If you speak inside the team, the✤ atmosphere has really chan♎ged.

“Everyone is coming together, more than before. 𒁃“There is less pre🌜ssure.

“Now, they are working on a new platfor꧑m and hoping for the best for next year.”