Ocon disputes Alonso’s rep for ‘breaking team-mates’

Fernando Alonso’s reputation for “breaking team-mates” is undeserved, that’s according to Esteban Ocon who says it is a “privilege” working with the Spaniard.

Returning to the Formula 1 grid after two seasons away, Alonso teamed up with Ocon in an all-new line up for the Alpine team.

While excited to work alongside the double World Champion, Ocon went into their partnership with a few questions given Alonso’s reputation.

The Spaniard did not have an easy time alongside Lewis Hamilton in 2007 while Stoffel Vandoorne blames the politics that surrounded Alonso for his short Formula 1 career.

Ocon found Alonso to be anything but the prima donna he was billed as.

“A lot of people said Fernando was very difficult to work with, that he had a reputation for breaking team-mates and all that,” the Frenchman said as per Racer.

“I wanted to see it from my eyes, I wanted to see if what people were saying was true and in the end it wasn’t. We’ve just had a fantastic collaboration all together.

“He’s a hell of a racer – he’s extremely extremely fast, for sure the fastest team-mate I’ve had for a while. I was very happy to work alongside him.”

That collaboration was evident at the Hungarian Grand Prix when Alonso was applauded for his efforts in holding up the charging Lewis Hamilton to help Ocon to a first grand prix win.

Ocon said at the time that his team-mate was “absolutely incredible” while Alpine’s Alan Permane says his defence was “crucial” for Ocon’s win.

But it wasn’t just in Hungary where Alonso was supported the 25-year-old.

“I’ve learned a lot alongside him,” Ocon continued, “just the way Fernando thinks out of the box, where some other drivers would not think about or even the team would not think about stuff. It’s pushing