The initial two races of the season in Bahrain and Jeddah highlighted the struggles that Alpine has been facing with the slowest car on the grid. Despite starting from 17th on the grid in the Jeddah race, Esteban Ocon managed to make some progress by passing Valtteri Bottas and running in a group of faster cars after the safety car period. Ocon finished 12th in the race, but he was quick to dismiss any notion that this result signified a significant improvement for Alpine. He attributed his performance to “opportunistic” circumstances that allowed him to be in a group of faster cars.
Identifying Areas for Improvement
Ocon acknowledged that while there were some positives to take away from the Jeddah race, there is still a long way to go for Alpine to be competitive. He emphasized the need to constantly push for improvements and work closely with the team to find solutions. Ocon mentioned that racing against other cars in Jeddah made it easier to identify areas that need improvement, compared to the season opener in Bahrain. Despite the slight progress in terms of grid position, Ocon admitted that Alpine still lacks the pace to truly compete with other teams on normal circuits.
Handling Tough Racing Situations
Ocon also addressed the issue of Kevin Magnussen’s blocking tactics during the race, stating that while it created some tough racing situations, he personally enjoys such challenges. He refrained from criticizing Magnussen’s actions and left it to the FIA to decide if it was excessive. Ocon acknowledged the chaos that ensued due to Magnussen’s tactics, particularly with regards to creating traffic for the cars behind him. Despite the challenges faced during the race, Ocon remained focused on finding ways to improve Alpine’s overall performance.
Alpine’s struggles in the opening rounds of the season highlight the need for significant improvements in order to be competitive. While there were some positive takeaways from the race in Jeddah, Esteban Ocon and the team are well aware of the areas that require immediate attention. The focus remains on pushing for continuous development and finding solutions to enhance the car’s performance in the upcoming races. As the season progresses, Alpine will need to overcome these challenges to establish themselves as a formidable contender on the grid.
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