The French team’s campaign in the 2024 first division started in a disastrous way. The team, owned by Renault, is facing the challenge of an overweight car and a weak Power Unit, resulting in a position at the back of the grid.
During the Bahrain Grand Prix, Ocon and Pierre Gasly found themselves starting in P19 and P20, respectively. This clearly demonstrates the tough battle they are facing with their Alpine A524, considered the worst among the ten F1 cars.
Anticipating the Australian Grand Prix, Ocon was asked how he stays motivated in such circumstances during the FIA-organized F1 drivers’ press conference. He expressed his frustration, stating that it is the worst feeling to perform well but not be able to score points. The lack of reward at the end of the day makes it mentally challenging to give your best.
However, Ocon acknowledged that this is part of the job and emphasized the importance of doing the best with the resources available. He concluded by stating his commitment to the sport.
Alpine has been facing significant challenges for some time. The team has been in disarray since the awkward announcement in Spa-Francorchamps, after last year’s summer break, that Otmar Szafnauer was no longer part of their plans. Since then, the team has experienced a constant turnover of key personnel, with individuals being fired or leaving.
Although Bruno Famin holds the position of Alpine F1 team director, the final authority lies with Renault CEO Luca de Meo. It is evident that De Meo’s lack of understanding of F1, combined with the arrogance commonly associated with individuals in his position, is severely impacting the team.
Similar to the late Sergio Marchionne, who made the unfortunate decision to appoint Mattia Binotto as head of Ferrari, De Meo’s lack of F1 knowledge is hindering the team’s success. Being a top executive in the automotive industry does not automatically translate to knowledge about racing or the ability to manage a successful F1 team.
De Meo falls into the category of “big names in motorsport” who don’t understand anything about F1. Consequently, the team is currently in a precarious state. The only hope may be to sell the team to someone who can turn it into more than just a back-of-the-grid operation, considering the deep hole they are digging.
While firing people may give the impression of taking decisive action, the process of hiring new employees is much more time-consuming. It always takes a few years before top talents can join a team, as paid leave is a common practice in F1 contracts for highly skilled individuals.
With a significant part of the team that conceived the current Alpine and its development trajectory likely out or leaving the team, the car is in a state of uncertainty. In other words, this year’s A624 is slower than last year’s A523 at this same time. This is hard to comprehend, especially considering the progress made by the other nine F1 teams.
Ocon believes there are numerous minor issues that are not working as desired. However, given the competitiveness of the field at the moment, these details can make a significant difference if many things are not right.
“I remember being so far back on the grid with Manor, but nowadays it’s much closer to the midfield. The field is much more condensed from P1 to where we are, and that requires a very different approach to solving things. So, yes, we’ll see where and how we progress throughout the year, but our goal is to progress.”
Regarding the difficult situation his team is currently facing, Ocon expressed his dissatisfaction. Neither the team in Viry nor in Enstone endure as much suffering during race weekends.
“It’s a long season, and we’re working to optimize the car, understand our problems, and turn things around. Hopefully, it’s easier said than done. Until we do, it’s just words. But that’s the goal of our team.”
“We won’t ease the pressure until we reach that point. And that’s everyone’s goal. Team morale is high and everyone is motivated. That’s what matters most at the moment,” added Ocon, who will make his 136th start in the Grand Prix in Melbourne on Sunday.
© 2024
The sports world is in turmoil with the latest bombshell news. A reliable source revealed that the world’s most famous football player is considering changing clubs. According to exclusive information, the star is dissatisfied with the current team and has already expressed a desire to seek new challenges in another team.
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