Esteban Ocon gave Alpine the first victory of his short career in Formula 1 last Sunday at the Hungarian Grand Prix. With this, the Anglo-French training receives an enormous moral boost for the future.
Alpine It is currently a mid-table team, but the project has been conceived with the intention of returning Groupe Renault to the top of Formula 1. Therefore, obtaining the first victory is a very important milestone in the team’s plans.
And it is that the pair formed by Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso aims to fight for everything starting in 2022, for which Renault has been structuring and strengthening the team in recent years.
“I am very happy for Esteban, because he has endured some difficult moments recently”
The moment of truth will come in a few months, but as Alpine savors victory at the Hungaroring. «It is an important victory for Esteban, for the team and for the Alpine brand, as this is a very ambitious marketing project. I am very happy for Esteban, because he has endured some difficult moments recently, some very difficult weeks, “said Alain Prost in this regard.
And the fact is that the Renault Group has placed a lot of hopes and investment in Alpine, both in the competition section and in the automotive market. The brand led by Laurent Rossi must position itself as sports and electric alternative looking to the future, something in which Formula 1 plays a fundamental role.
Ocon will get stronger
The four-time champion and current non-executive member of Alpine believes that Esteban Ocon will reach a new level of confidence after his first victory, something that will also benefit the entire team.
«Luck obviously played a role, but you have to take advantage of it and the whole team, starting with Esteban, did just that. It is a timely victory, just before the summer break, which will raise the morale of the whole team, who really need it »says Prost.
“When you become a winner in F1, you enter a different dimension. He started eighth and was able to win the race. You will be thinking about that at the beginning of each Grand Prix, and it will give you a different status in the team. There were many unfortunate criticisms after signing the three-year agreement, so this will settle things, ”he recalls.
“With Fernando Alonso, we will have a dynamic duo that will only become more and more complementary over time, and that is very positive, “he reiterates. Alain Prost, who recently admitted to having doubts regarding the hiring of the Spanish pilot.
“When you look at the pit stops (2.19; 2.37; 2.52, 3.03), we have never done that, as it has never been our strong point. This means that when we have to perform, all equipment is galvanized and we all do a better job.. It was a magical day ”, concludes Alain Prost.