Esteban Ocon didn’t hold back after a frustrating Las Vegas Grand Prix, highlighting issues with his Alpine machine that have hampered his performance since Austin. The Frenchman’s struggles were compounded by a pit stop blunder and inconsistent car performance, leaving him well outside the points in 17th place.
“A Drive-Through for Nothing”
Ocon’s race took a dramatic turn when he was sent through the pit lane with no Alpine crew prepared to service his car.
“I did a drive-through for nothing because we didn’t change tires, and that cost us our race,” Ocon said, pointing to the error as a major factor in his disappointing finish.
Car Struggles Widen the Gap
While teammate Pierre Gasly was competing comfortably in the top 10 before a power unit issue ended his race, Ocon’s pace was far off. The French driver said the upgraded Alpine car, which has benefitted Gasly in recent rounds, hasn’t delivered similar results for him.
“One car—Pierre’s—was quick since Austin. Unfortunately, we are not fast since Austin, and that could cost us in the championship,” Ocon lamented. “We need to figure out what exactly is going on and hopefully improve for the next two races.”
The team’s inconsistency has allowed Haas to leapfrog Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship, with Alpine now trailing by a single point.
Differing Views on the Problem
Ocon’s criticism comes amid assurances from Team Principal Oliver Oakes that there’s no fundamental difference between the two Alpine cars.
“Both cars are the same; both got the upgrade. It’s just about making it more comfortable for Esteban,” Oakes explained.
He acknowledged Ocon’s struggles in qualifying, with Gasly consistently outpacing him, and emphasized the need to address these issues.
“Even this weekend, he was just one-tenth away from Q3. He had a very good race pace today. It’s just a shame we made it tougher than it needed to be,” Oakes added.
Championship Impact and Next Steps
With two races left in the season, Alpine’s fight for sixth in the Constructors’ Championship remains precarious. Ocon insists the team must address the discrepancies in performance to avoid further setbacks.
“Since Austin, it seems to not work at all on our side, and we need to make sure this is not the case anymore for the last two,” Ocon said.
As Alpine aims to close out the season on a high, their focus will be on resolving the issues affecting Ocon’s car while maintaining the momentum Gasly has shown in recent races. Whether they can reclaim sixth from Haas will hinge on eliminating costly mistakes and maximizing the potential of both cars.