Esteban Ocon remains optimistic about Alpine’s upgrades, hoping for stronger results in Mexico following a tough weekend in Austin.
Esteban Ocon set his first fastest lap in a Grand Prix at Austin… but unfortunately, it’s not a particularly reassuring sign for Alpine F1.
The Frenchman’s race was ruined right from the start, forcing him to fit soft tires at the end of the race to deny Williams F1 an additional point that Franco Colapinto was about to score.
This was a deliberate strategy from Alpine against Williams, who are separated by just 4 points in the Constructors’ standings for the – less than glorious – 8th place.
The Norman driver reflects on his race and looks ahead to Mexico this week.
“It was unfortunate to spend our Sunday in Austin trying to recover after getting hit from behind, which caused a spin (photo below) and dropped us to the back of the pack from the first corner. We worked very hard to gain back some positions during the race, with an extended first stint to counterbalance things, but in the end, the points weren’t for us.”
“Towards the end, we decided to pit for fresh soft tires and go for the fastest lap, which we managed to achieve. As a result, our direct competitors couldn’t claim the bonus point that comes with it.”
“Our car, with the upgrades, performed quite well, especially on Saturday, and we can build on that as we head into the Mexican Grand Prix.”
“I’m excited to return to Mexico. It’s a thrilling circuit with an incredible atmosphere. One of the best sections for all the drivers is the stadium part; it’s always special when the stands are packed, and it gives me even more motivation before the race starts. The track is fun to drive, and the car behaves differently from almost everywhere else on the calendar due to the altitude. We’ll use the lessons from our upgrades in Austin to get everything we can out of the weekend.”
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Alpine’s Upgrades Show Promise Despite Austin Struggles Alpine’s Upgrades Show Promise Despite Austin Struggles
