Esteban Ocon has urged his Alpine workforce to seek out solutions about his lack of tempo in comparison with team-mate Pierre Gasly since the US Grand Prix.
Ocon had outqualified Gasly 14 instances to seven within the first 21 qualifying and dash qualifying classes of the season, however the development modified in Austin weekend.
Since then, Ocon has solely managed to outqualify his team-mate as soon as, ending a mean of over three tenths slower over the six grid-deciding classes for the reason that US GP.
The Frenchman completed down in seventeenth place within the final race in Las Vegas, the place Gasly certified third and was operating within the high 10 earlier than an engine downside compelled him into retirement.
“I feel, you realize, one automotive, Pierre, was fast since Austin,” Ocon stated after the Las Vegas race.
“Sadly, we aren’t quick since Austin and that would price us as properly within the championship.
“So we have to work out what precisely is occurring and hopefully enhance the scenario for the following two. However yeah, for the time being it appears troublesome for us.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
“I used to be counting a bit bit extra on a excessive degradation race, extra of the tyre administration race like final yr to have the ability to combat again.
“And that is what we had been doing properly, however sadly while you drive by means of for nothing and you place your self into that penalty then it isn’t good,” stated Ocon after shedding lots of time when he drove into the pits solely to seek out his mechanics weren’t prepared.
Ocon stated in Las Vegas that he hoped Alpine was treating him pretty, and workforce boss Oliver Oakes insisted each vehicles had been precisely the identical.
“Yeah, clearly I noticed his remark, I feel clearly afterwards he type of meant… He has type of been a bit bit off Pierre in comparison with the place he preferred to be,” stated Oakes.
“However from our facet, you realize, each vehicles are the identical, they have the improve – simply one thing that we will preserve wanting into to make it extra snug.”
Ocon additionally dismissed that he was combating the under-rotation of the automotive in comparison with Gasly’s: “No, it is clearly not that for positive.”
He added: “We’ll see. We’re working with the workforce to try to enhance the scenario. However yeah, since Austin, it appears to not work in any respect outdoors. And we have to be sure that this isn’t the case anymore.”
Ocon will go away Alpine on the finish of the season to affix Oliver Bearman at Haas.
Learn Additionally:
