Alonso and Ocon to get equal status at Alpine F1, insists Rossi
Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has vowed that Esteban Ocon will receive equal treatment as Fernando Alonso at the rebranded Renault Formula 1 team in 2021.
Two-time world champion Alonso is coming out of retirement in 2021 to replace McLaren-bound Daniel Ricciardo at the Enstone outfit.
Despite Alonso's credentials, Alpine has stated that the Spaniard will not get number one status in the team and that his teammate Ocon will receive equal treatment.
"The drivers have to be as fast as possible and will clearly challenge each other," Rossi said at the launch of the team's 2021 challenger, the Alpine A521. "That's like healthy competition and that's about it. There's no instruction and no number one driver.
"[A number one and number two contract] doesn't exist. I don't think it exists in many teams to be honest, at least not in ours."
Ocon said he relishes Alonso's arrival at the team and expects their partnership to run smoothly.
"I have always had a great relationship with Fernando, even when we were racing back together in '17 and '18," said Ocon. "I always had so much respect for what Fernando has done over the years and racing with him has always been very close, but very fun and very enjoyable.
"I'm definitely looking forward to teaming up with him properly in an event. So far it's been a great collaboration and I expect it to be the same for the rest of the year."
Ocon faced a tough first half of the 2020 season with Renault, particularly failing to match Ricciardo in qualifying. During the second half of the campaign the Frenchman's form improved, culminating in his first-ever podium at the Sakhir Grand Prix.
Asked if Alonso would present an even greater challenge than Ricciardo, Ocon responded: "We will see. Fernando is a two-time world champion. It will be the first time that I work alongside a world champion so that's very interesting.
"I expect Fernando to be ready. He had a lot of testing last year and with his experience and all what he's done over the years, I think straight away from the first race he will be on it. So yeah, I expect him to be a tough opponent for sure."
Related video
Vettel "at peace" with himself over Ferrari F1 exit
How Mercedes could actually benefit from F1's budget cap
Williams: Costly F1 crashes masking Sargeant's "steady improvement"
Williams: Costly F1 crashes masking Sargeant's "steady improvement" Williams: Costly F1 crashes masking Sargeant's "steady improvement"
Ocon: Alpine F1 swap policy "clear" amid Gasly confusion in Japan
Ocon: Alpine F1 swap policy "clear" amid Gasly confusion in Japan Ocon: Alpine F1 swap policy "clear" amid Gasly confusion in Japan
The art of compromise an F1 race engineer has to master
The art of compromise an F1 race engineer has to master The art of compromise an F1 race engineer has to master
Alonso explains "throwing me to the lions" radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
Alonso explains "throwing me to the lions" radio rant in F1 Japanese GP Alonso explains "throwing me to the lions" radio rant in F1 Japanese GP
The Alonso and Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
The Alonso and Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri The Alonso and Schumacher F1 traits McLaren sees in Piastri
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory Why Alonso and Aston made the call that guaranteed Verstappen's Monaco victory
Alpine: Gasly/Ocon late switch in F1 Japanese GP right thing to do
Alpine: Gasly/Ocon late switch in F1 Japanese GP right thing to do Alpine: Gasly/Ocon late switch in F1 Japanese GP right thing to do
Gasly: Alpine's Ocon swap wasn't discussed before Japan F1 race
Gasly: Alpine's Ocon swap wasn't discussed before Japan F1 race Gasly: Alpine's Ocon swap wasn't discussed before Japan F1 race
The concerning questions raised by Alpine’s latest F1 upheaval
The concerning questions raised by Alpine’s latest F1 upheaval The concerning questions raised by Alpine’s latest F1 upheaval
2024 Supercars grid almost finalised
2024 Supercars grid almost finalised 2024 Supercars grid almost finalised
NASCAR suspends six crew members for loose wheels at Texas
NASCAR suspends six crew members for loose wheels at Texas NASCAR suspends six crew members for loose wheels at Texas
Boris Said and Rajah Caruth join Hendrick for NASCAR Xfinity races
Boris Said and Rajah Caruth join Hendrick for NASCAR Xfinity races Boris Said and Rajah Caruth join Hendrick for NASCAR Xfinity races
Blaney on playoffs: "It's not always going to go great"
Blaney on playoffs: "It's not always going to go great" Blaney on playoffs: "It's not always going to go great"
How football has posed difficult questions for F1
How football has posed difficult questions for F1 How football has posed difficult questions for F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1 The fans that offer a ray of light in an increasingly partisan F1
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023 Japanese Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2023
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip How Verstappen’s crushing Japanese GP win showed Singapore was a blip
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out Why the reality of F1 engineering debriefs isn't what Drive to Survive makes out
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation How Tsunoda has eliminated a crucial F1 limitation
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge Why precedent doesn’t favour Massa’s F1 legal challenge
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius Why Sainz’s Singapore F1 success was not just about DRS genius
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.