Esteban Ocon, member of the Alpine F1 team, acknowledges that the team is prepared for the worst-case scenario as they head into the Bahrain Grand Prix. The team has made significant changes to their Formula 1 car for the 2024 season after facing difficulties in the previous year and finishing in sixth place. Ocon and his teammate, Pierre Gasly, have been informed that the team may face challenges at the beginning of the season as they adapt to the new design. This became evident in the pre-season testing in Bahrain, where Ocon and Gasly found themselves in 16th and 17th positions on the time sheets. Despite the challenges, Ocon remains determined to perform at his best, regardless of the team’s current position. He acknowledges the possibility of things not going as planned but emphasizes that there are still opportunities for success this year. Ocon echoes the optimism expressed by Alpine team boss, Bruno Famin, believing that the team can turn their luck around as the season progresses. While goals may have been missed in terms of schedule, Ocon remains confident that they can be achieved in due time. The team acknowledges the difficult start they have had but is committed to facing the challenges together and working towards improvement.
“We must focus on the future and seek solutions because we know that options are available to us. Whether it’s in the short or medium term, my current focus is solely on that.”
“There is a reason why we find ourselves in this situation. However, what really matters at this moment, starting from today, is how quickly we can improve the performance of our car.”
Famin practically confirmed that Alpine needs to reduce the excessive weight of their A524 vehicle and also strive to increase aerodynamic pressure to compete with their rivals.
However, Ocon identified a specific aspect of the Anglo-French team’s package that has significantly hindered their overall competitiveness.
“There is one main issue that stands out among the others,” explained Ocon. “Fortunately, we managed to solve most of the minor issues during the three days of testing, which is a positive result.
“So, we had a satisfactory experience driving the car, especially in terms of balance. However, we clearly identified the problem and that is what we will focus on resolving.”
When asked about the timeline to resolve this specific problem, Ocon responded, “It will take time. I am confident that there are several areas where we can still improve, but it will require time for car development.”
