The Alpine driver, Esteban Ocon, expressed his disappointment after facing engine issues during the qualifying for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. These engine failures cost him valuable time, totaling over a tenth of a second. Despite making it to Q2 and finishing in 12th place, Ocon believed that a spot in Q3 was within reach. He attributed his difficulties to a power unit problem that affected his straight-line speed, as well as incorrect adjustments made to the car setup before the session. Ocon felt that this qualifying session was the team’s least successful of the season, with missed opportunities and setbacks hampering their performance.
Ocon acknowledged the positive aspect of having both Alpine cars in Q2, but emphasized that they had achieved this feat several times before. He believed there was more potential in this session, but the changes made to the car setup did not yield the desired results. Furthermore, engine issues caused fluctuations in turbo boost throughout the session, resulting in a loss of one and a half seconds. Ocon recognized that these seemingly minor issues can accumulate and impact overall performance, preventing them from reaching Q3. He concluded that this qualifying session was the least optimized of the year for Alpine.
When asked if this meant that this was the least successful weekend of the season, Ocon clarified that he was specifically referring to the qualifying session and not the entire round. He acknowledged that the team had performed well in yesterday’s qualifying session, but felt that today’s session was a step in the wrong direction. Despite the challenges faced in qualifying, Ocon remained hopeful for the race and believed that the changes made to the car’s setup would be beneficial for his pace. He expressed optimism that Alpine was making progress and moving towards a position where they could compete for points. Ocon will start one place behind his teammate Pierre Gasly, and the team is determined to make an impact after implementing weight reduction updates for this weekend’s race.
