In the first two races of the season, both Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon have shown a similar level and this has led them to fight for the same positions on the track. The Spanish is sure that he will repeat himself.
Alpine He wanted to play down the matter, stating that the position dispute between his two drivers in Jeddah Corniche was normal and the only thing he asks of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon is that they always prioritize the best possible result for the team.
For their part, the drivers have also wanted to downplay it, ensuring that the respect between the two is intact and that they will always face each other fairly.
“Arabia was a disappointment as we looked ready for sixth position”
Something that has been reiterated by Fernando Alonso, who envisions several more battles like that in future races. «We had some fair and exciting fight in Saudi Arabia and also in Bahrain. We have a lot of respect for each other. I am sure there will be more battles with Esteban and the rest of the grid this year, as apart from the two cars ahead (Ferrari and Red Bull), it is very tight between various teams.
Sunday’s Disappointment
Unfortunately, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix did not end as expected for Fernando Alonso, who has also seen how the engine used in the second round of the year has been rendered useless.
“It was frustrating, but we can be satisfied with our overall pace so far,” says the Spanish driver. “Sundays are where the points are scored, so we just have to make sure we score points at that time.. The whole team is working hard to make sure we maintain our level of evolution.”
We analyze the highlights of this start of the 2022 Formula 1 season.
“We deserve to be much higher in the standings after two races. Our car has been good and the performance has been good over the weekends as well.. Last weekend was a disappointment as we looked comfortable and ready for sixth position until we retired,” recalls Alonso.
Want to go back to Australia
But it is time to turn the page and Fernando Alonso is delighted to return to Australia after three seasons of absence in his case.
“I like the track and although it is quite difficult to overtake, changes have been made to encourage this, so we will see how it all develops,” Alonso said. “I think it is clear that we will not see the same level of overtaking that we saw in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but with these new cars it seems easier to follow other carsso in theory here it should be easier to try to overtake than in the past.”
Esteban Ocon also hopes to enjoy Australia, one of the destinations that always motivates pilots. “It’s exciting to be back in Australia. The last time we were there we left under very strange circumstances and the world has changed in many ways since then. Personally, I have always enjoyed racing there and the atmosphere is always great.”
“Albert Park has always been a nice track and this year the track layout changes are quite significant which adds some excitement. For example, Turn 9/10 has been removed and the changes from Turn 6/7 look small, but are substantial for cornering speeds.”consider the French.
“These kinds of changes will mean lap times should be several seconds faster this year. With these changes and the new generation of cars, It should be an exciting race and there will be some good battles on the track. We are excited and can’t wait to try it out for the first time in real life on Friday morning.”
a promising start
Although things have not gone well for Fernando Alonso on Sundays, Stephen Ocon he has been able to maximize his potential, getting a seventh in Bahrain and a sixth in Saudi Arabia that placed him sixth in the World Cup with 14 points.
“It has been a very positive start for me. The more I drive the new car, the more I understand it and I think as a team we are moving in the right direction. We are showing that we are competitive from the beginning and that is a good sign for everyone.”Ocon points out.
“It’s a testament to the hard work of all the men and women in the factories over the winter and I hope we can keep going and get better. But it’s a long season and we know this is a marathon, not a sprintand consistent results will be key to achieving our goals this year”, concludes the Frenchman.
After the first two races, Alpine is fourth in the constructors’ championship with 16 points and sees in Mercedes a rival that can be beaten if the season develops as the Anglo-French team expects.
Source:
Alpine F1 Team
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Photos: Alpine F1 Team