Esteban Ocon, driver of the Alpine F1 team, acknowledged the need for improvement in the team’s performance, despite earning their first point of the 2024 season at the Miami Grand Prix. The team faced setbacks this year due to an overweight and underdeveloped A524 car, based on a new concept. However, after implementing updates to address the excess weight, Ocon managed to secure a respectable 10th place in Miami. The French driver sees this achievement as a positive step for the team and hopes it contributes to their ongoing progress.
Ocon expressed his satisfaction in earning a single point, especially considering the team’s previous difficulties in Bahrain, where they finished 19th and 20th. He acknowledges the incremental improvements they have made and appreciates the team’s dedication to understanding the issues affecting their pace. Although the weekend was not without challenges, Ocon believes that their near points scored in the last two races (11th in Shanghai and 10th in Miami) are encouraging signs of their potential. Overall, he is pleased with the weekend’s result and the rewards they have reaped.
The driver also revealed that he faced the same engine problems during qualifying, which hindered his chances of advancing to Q3. Despite this setback, Ocon states that the Alpine car performs better in qualifying sessions compared to race conditions. He speculates that if the race had lasted a few more laps, his teammate Nico Hulkenberg would have been a formidable competitor. Ocon himself had to face numerous challenges during the race and laments the lack of straight-line speed of the car, which further complicated things. Despite these difficulties, he remains optimistic and appreciates the rewards they have achieved, considering the less than ideal preparation for the race.
