Mick Schumacher’s hopes of returning to Formula 1 sooner rather than later may have taken a big step forward - and it could be related to Esteban Ocon.
Ocon drew the fury not only of his Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly in Monaco, but also their team boss Bruno Famin, following a lap 1 collision on Sunday.
Gasly said it was a breach of "respect" of a pre-race team order - and Famin reacted furiously.
"Esteban’s manoeuvre was completely inappropriate. We will learn from it," he said on Canal Plus.
Famin also told interviewer Franck Montagny that the incident "compromised the team", adding: "That’s why we’re going to take a tough decision and we will take it quickly."
The stewards also reacted harshly, adding two penalty points to Ocon’s super license and shunting him five places down the grid in Montreal in a fortnight.
Already in Monaco, rumours were swirling that while Gasly might stay with Alpine in 2025, fellow Frenchman Ocon was actively seeking out a team switch.
Haas boss Ayao Komatsu had said on Saturday: "If someone comes to see us, has an interest in us, I will not close the door. Esteban is one of them, but one of many."
Ocon took to social media after his early DNF, accepting the blame and apologising. But a reporter for Viaplay said to the 27-year-old that she has "some information from Bruno Famin" - to which Ocon promptly walked away.
Former F1 driver Timo Glock thinks serious unrest has now infected Alpine amid its push to emerge from a deep performance crisis.
"I think there’s unrest between the two drivers. Neither is happy with their current situation at Alpine," he told Sky Deutschland. "That’s why there is a great opportunity for Mick."
Glock is referring to Mick Schumacher, the reserve driver for Mercedes but also a prominent member of Alpine’s endurance racing program.
And even Famin admitted that Schumacher, who has been off the grid since losing his Haas race seat in 2022, might now be a contender for Alpine’s F1 lineup.
"Everything is open for 2025," he said. "Everyone talks to everyone.
"Mick is super fast, but in the WEC you also have to have a good team spirit. He has a very good relationship with his teammates.
"It would be a mistake not to have Mick on the list," Famin added.