The first third of the season shows us a clear dominance of Esteban Ocon over Fernando Alonso in the general classification of drivers. However, other data shows a very different reality that we are going to analyze.
We have already completed 7 of the 22 Grand Prix included in the 2022 Formula 1 season calendar. And the balance of Alpine in this first third of the year is really disappointing.
And if we look at the general classification of drivers, we see that the driver who has contributed the least to the Anglo-French team has been Fernando Alonso, who with 10 points is really far from Esteban Ocon, who adds 30.
But you are right, the reality of the season is very different and forces us to take many more aspects into account. Let’s start with it.
Alonso vs. Ocon in classification
The points are what count at the end of each season, but especially when it comes to the duel between drivers, they do not count everything, far from it.
Starting with the speed of each one in classification, in this case Fernando Alonso is the clear dominator this year. Not only because he has reached Q3 more times, but because he has been clearly faster overall in the 7 qualifying sessions held so far.
Alonso and Ocon classification statistics
In Bahrain, Fernando Alonso was 0.161 seconds faster than Esteban Ocon in Q2, moving on to the next round thanks to that. In Saudi Arabiathe turn was for the Frenchman, who led his teammate by 0.079 seconds in Q3.
In Australia, Fernando Alonso suffered an accident during his first fast lap attempt in Q3. Therefore, comparing the times from Q2, we find that the Spaniard was once again the fastest, beating Ocon by 0.321 seconds.
In Imola, Alpine’s fastest in qualifying was again Alonso, even reaching Q3 while Ocon stayed in Q1. 2,140 seconds in favor of the two-time champion on this occasion (comparing Q1 times).
In Miami the duel was put on hold as a result of Esteban Ocon’s accident in Free Practice 3, which prevented the Frenchman from taking part in qualifying. In the Spanish Grand Prix, the disaster happened to Alonso, who was eliminated in Q1. On this occasion, Esteban Ocon led his teammate by 0.163 seconds. And in MonacoAlonso improved the Frenchman’s Q3 time by 0.800 seconds.
Total, Fernando Alonso is on average 0.636 seconds per lap faster than Esteban Ocon in qualifying. A record only made worse on this year’s grid by Nicholas Latifi and Guanyu Zhou compared to Alex Albon and Valtteri Bottas respectively.
The duel Alonso vs. ocon on the run
We now move on to Sundays, the moment in which, unless it is a weekend with a sprint format, the points are distributed.
There is no doubt that, in the races, Esteban Ocon has had much more luck than Fernando Alonso, because triples the veteran two-time champion in points. But, is it a consequence of a better performance of the French? First, the cold numbers.
Alonso and Ocon career statistics
The numbers are clear, but the circumstances that have caused them, too. The first thing that stands out is that Fernando Alonso has had to leave twice this year. The first came in Saudi Arabia due to a broken engine when he was running in sixth position. The second, at Imola after being hit by Mick Schumacher on the first lap.
In Australia, after the accident in Q3 and the tenth position on the grid, the strategy against the tide put Fernando Alonso back in the fight for seventh position. But a awkward safety car condemned him to stay out of the points again.
In Miami the problem came in the form of double penalty: the first for hitting Pierre Gasly in an overtaking attempt and the second for judging the stewards that he had not given back enough time after skipping turn 14. Only the latter took him out of the points.
As far as Esteban Ocon is concerned, he has scored points in five of the seven races held. Only in Imola and Monaco was the French left without adding. In both the responsibility was of a 5 second penalty: on Italian soil for entering the pit-lane in a dangerous way after his pit stop and in the Principality for hitting Lewis Hamilton during an overtaking.
The conclusion we can draw is that Fernando Alonso is clearly being faster than Esteban Ocon this year. And, when his bad streak ends definitively (at the moment there are two races in a row scoring points), that speed will begin to be reflected in the general classification of drivers.
Photos: Alpine F1 Team