Eleventh place in the Formula 1 race in China is both good and bad for Alpine: How Esteban Ocon assesses the best result of the season so far
At the 2024 China Grand Prix in Shanghai, Alpine was just 2.336 seconds short of its first success of the current Formula 1 season. After 56 race laps on the Shanghai International Circuit, Esteban Ocon finished in a thankless eleventh place, for which there are currently no more points
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow,” says Ocon. “But I think we got the maximum out of it. I really have the impression that I drove my best race of the year. We didn’t leave anything out at all.”
And yet it was not enough for Alpine to finish in the top 10. “That’s why I have mixed feelings,” says Ocon. “But at least we’re moving in the right direction. A small step every time.”
Alpine has made technical improvements in Shanghai: the Formula 1 team had a new underbody with them, which was originally planned for Miami. However, in order to bring the update forward, the forces had to be concentrated on one car, so that only Ocon had access to the new parts, Pierre Gasly did not.
Does the update really do what it’s supposed to?
But what exactly is different about the A524 with the update? “We still have to find out,” says Ocon. One improvement, however, is the lower overall weight of the chassis, which he was allowed to drive in Shanghai. The advantage is around two kilograms.
“As for the rest, we first have to analyze what has brought a clear performance advantage. Because both cars did quite well this weekend,” says Ocon.
These words suggest that Alpine may not be completely convinced of its further development. Ocon confirms this when he says: “We expect more from the aerodynamics. And we have to see whether we have implemented them to the maximum. Because we expected more from the simulator than what we saw on the track. “
How much was your own strength, how much was circumstance?
Of course, Ocon is asked if the trend is right. Answer: “We haven’t scored any points yet. So it’s too early to make a judgment here.”
Eleventh place is Alpine’s best result of the season so far. “But we have to be careful what we read into it,” says Ocon. “A few things happened in this race and a few people are a long way back [in the results]. You have to bear that in mind. “
Ocon hopes for “new chance” in Miami
On the other hand, it was a “very strong weekend” for Alpine. “I’m also happy with my driving,” says Ocon. “We can continue like this. We’ll keep pushing and hopefully get another chance to finish in the points in Miami.”
Because the speed of the A524 was not bad: according to F1 Tempo’s data analysis, Ocon was practically on a par with Nico Hülkenberg in the Haas over the Grand Prix distance, who scored the last championship point in tenth place – coming from ninth on the grid. Ocon had started from P13. This is probably why he is speculating on more in Miami.
Incidentally, with both cars on the same specification: Alpine also wants to equip Gasly with the new parts at the first US race of the year. Should only one set of update parts be available later in the year, Gasly would be the first to receive them. Ocon’s team-mate at Alpine finished 13th in the Grand Prix, a good six and a half seconds behind the sister car.
