'At the very least, he is an excellent number two'

Alpine is having a great season in Formula 1. While Fernando Alonso is in 11th place in the world championship with 26 points, Esteban Ocon occupies the 13th position with twelve points less than his teammate. The team will do its best to at least continue this performance in the coming years.

The contract extension of Ocon fitted perfectly with that ambition. The Frenchman signed until 2024 and made it clear to other teams where his future lies. The Alpine team itself is also happy with the new contract.

CEO Laurant Rossi thinks Ocon is an excellent Formula 1 driver, he told the BBC. "Maybe he is not yet a driver to be a world champion candidate in the future. But I wouldn't let anyone say he's less than a second driver in another team. At the very least, he is an excellent number two."

Rossi believes the French driver is among the better drivers on the circuit. "Esteban is among the top ten drivers on the grid. We didn't make the mistake of replacing him. For me there was no need to think too much about this decision. This is a long-term project and he fits very well here."