Alpine enjoyed a very positive result at the Belgian Grand Prix thanks to Fernando Alonso’s fifth place and Esteban Ocon’s seventh. The Frenchman completed an exceptional comeback from 16th position on the grid.
Alpine’s weekend at Spa-Francorchamps went according to plan and its two drivers obtained a valuable result for the team, which now consolidates its fourth position in the constructors’ championship with 20 points ahead of McLaren.
On it had a lot to do with Fernando Alonsowho after starting third on the grid and suffering a collision with Lewis Hamilton, secured a fifth place finish that further lengthened his streak of consecutive races in the points (9).
“I’m sure Alonso has also learned from me”
But if someone shone with his own light this Sunday at Spa-Francorchamps it was Esteban Ocon, who completed a sensational comeback accompanied by several maneuvers of merit from the 16th position on the grid in which he started after being penalized.
One of them was especially applauded, not only because of its difficulty, but also because reminded the one that Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher starred in in the same place 22 years before, with Ricardo Zonta as a spectator. On this occasion, the Frenchman overtook Sebastian Vettel and Yuki Tsunoda.
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Prepared to lead Alpine
All this leads Esteban Ocon to reclaim your leadership in Alpinethe team that in 2023 will lose Fernando Alonso and Oscar Piastri and that has to sign a new driver.
The Frenchman, who already has 103 Grand Prix in Formula 1, considers that he is ready to take over from a Fernando Alonso from whom he has learned several things. “I have learned good things. The preparation of the race, how he works with the tires and all that kind of stuff. But I am sure that he has also learned from me.
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“Anyway, there is no leader, no number 1 or number 2. It doesn’t work like that in teams anymore., we have the same status. That is established in the contracts, as always », he has expanded with respect to the eternal debate of the preferred driver of each team.
“I don’t care who my partner is”
In recent days, names like Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly and Mick Schumacher have sounded for Alpine’s second seat in 2023.
Esteban Ocon admitted that he preferred the German because of the friendship that unites them, but he also points out that, regardless of who is chosen, he is ready to take command of the team.
“With the knowledge that I have now, no matter who is next to me, I have to maintain my way of working and performing. Because normally, whoever comes to a new team needs time to adapt. (The team) needs a car that performs, but I am sure they will make the right choice and find the right driver,” Ocon reflects.
Now that Fernando Alonso’s departure is confirmed, Esteban Ocon has taken more weight in the development of the single-seater. The Frenchman points out that they both have similar ideas on how to move the car forward and he is not afraid of becoming the reference from now on.
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“I’m leading the development right now, right now. We both have very similar comments about the car. Sometimes I say things that I prefer, sometimes Fernando says others, but We never disagree with each other, so I’m pretty sure it’ll work out well in the future.”it is finished.
With eight races to go before the end of the 2022 season, Esteban Ocon is eighth in the general classification of drivers with 64 points12 behind Lando Norris and 13 ahead of Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso.
Font: motorsport.com
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Photos: Alpine F1 Team