Contract talks begin: Alpine impressed with Ocon's early season form in 2021

Esteban Ocon has out-performed two-time World Champion teammate Fernando Alonso during the first four races of the 2021 season. The young Frenchman has found his feet after a dip in 2020 following over 12 months out of the sport. Alpine confirm contract talks are already underway for Ocon's future at Alpine.

During his sabbatical year in 2019, Ocon spent time in the Mercedes garage learning the ropes as a Mercedes junior. Toto Wolff couldn't find a place in the team and therefore Ocon had to move elsewhere.

Ocon already demonstrated signs of improvement late in 2020 with a podium at the Sakhir Grand Prix. The 24-year-old has finished inside the points in each of the last three races, and his bosses at Alpine are keen to secure the driver.

“Esteban is doing everything to make me consider keeping him in the team. I would be remiss if I didn’t think about it. At the moment, we are already engaged in some conversations with his agent, his management team, Mercedes at large," Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi told Autosport in the press conference at Monaco.

"At the moment, I’m considering obviously Esteban as we mentioned earlier on, [and] Fernando is here next year with us. So if we want to carry on on the momentum we have, we’ll do that," he added.