Alpine generated plenty of headlines going into the United States Grand Prix by announcing a host of iconic sports stars were going to be investing in them.
The likes of Liverpool full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as golfer Rory McIlroy and boxer Anthony Joshua are all part of the glut of names taking a firm interest in the Enstone-based team, and the latter pair were in attendance in Austin, Texas over the weekend ahead of the race at the Circuit of the Americas.
Indeed, both took part in some weekend activities with McIlroy – fresh off of the back of winning the Ryder Cup with Team Europe – facing off against the team’s French driving pair of Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon in a putting challenge, while Joshua helped the team with pit stop practice on Sunday and was heard on team radio before lights out.
Ocon and Gasly discuss sports stars joining Alpine
Certainly, the story has stirred up lots of interest, and both Ocon and Gasly expressed their delight at getting to work with the duo.
“It’s been awesome to link up with them and to have some good chats and I think they are pretty excited about the future with us and the team and we are as well,” Ocon told media.
“It’s an honour to have them with us.”
Gasly added: “I mean I’m a massive sports fan. [Rory’s] obviously part of these golf legends at the moment with a lot of hype around him after the last Ryder Cup.
“It’s amazing for me to just exchange with these guys learn from their environment, their operation, and get a glimpse of their world – it’s been great.”
Things on track were a little more mixed for Alpine, meanwhile, in Austin with Gasly scoring a solid sixth place while Ocon retired early on following a first-lap clash with McLaren driver Oscar Piastri.
