With the first pre-season test session of the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship, it may already be time to take stock for Alpine and Esteban Ocon. The Enstone team grinded kilometers between Wednesday and Thursday, seeing its ambitions go up in smoke with the power unit due to a hydraulic problem accused by Fernando Alonso after a few laps on Friday morning.
For Ocon, however, the glass half full must be seen: there are still three days of testing in Bahrain before the first seasonal race on the Sakhir track: the data collected on the Montmelò track for now are giving good answers, proving to be correlated with what was seen at the simulator. But there are already those who can be half a step ahead of the competition, such as Ferrari, McLaren and Mercedes, by Esteban’s own admission.
Nervous or excited about this regulation change?
“I have to say that this new era of Formula 1 that we have been waiting for for years is exciting. If I think back to 2021, when these cars did not exist yet, we had only seen some drawings of the cars and tried the 18 ” tires.
“We still don’t know if it will be easier to follow the other cars, there is a lot of speculation about it, but it’s nice to finally see the cars on the track.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522
Photo by: Alessio Morgese
What is your feeling on the new car?
“The first time I got to drive the car was on the occasion of the filming day and I did ten laps with demo tires that were very different from the ones we use on the track. This year’s tires are different and resist degradation better. We are still discovering the new car. The tests are going well “.
How has the driving style changed?
“It is certainly very different from the past. The braking style has also changed. You have to modulate the brakes differently and have a lot of patience with the car. You have to adapt and at the moment you can’t expect to get the same lap times that we were able to do with the cars of the previous generation, but this is part of the F1 DNA ”.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522
Photo by: Alessio Morgese
“At the moment the cars are better in the fast corners because you have a lot more downforce and the 18 ” tires give you a lot more confidence. It is true that the car is heavier, but with these tires it is also more responsive. When you turn the steering you feel immediately ”.
“For us, both drivers and teams, it is a normal learning process”.
“It is difficult to say at the moment who guessed the project after two days of testing, we will only find out in qualifying in Bahrain. In any case, Ferrari seems fast, as do McLaren and Mercedes, but it is too early to say too much ”.
Visibility problems with 18 ” tires?
“In 90 ° curves, yes. We will have to go blind because we can’t see the top of the curb, but it’s a matter of time before we get used to this novelty ”.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
Differences between the real car and the simulator car?
“We obtained good feedback between the data on the track and those on the simulator. We didn’t suffer from the porpoising phenomenon that surprised other teams. We are continuing to study the correlation of the data as regards the balance of the car, but when we got to the track we found a substantial similarity between the car tested in the simulator and the real one ”.
Do you think that a total of 3 rounds of tests per driver is enough to adapt to this new generation of cars?
“I think so because you start to get used to the pace, but it will take at least 4 or 5 races before you can drive these cars to the limit, understand the tires and find out how the car reacts. In any case, the most important thing is the work you do at the end of the day to analyze all the data and be ready for the next day “.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images
How much has your life changed after the victory in Hungary?
“I think that victory gave both me and the team confidence. Sure, now when I go to the supermaket there are a lot more people asking to take a picture with me, but this popularity is not something I have ever given too much weight to. For me it was the completion of 20 years of hard work ”.
Can you tell us what your power unit has changed this year?
“We have a completely new engine. We have the turbo separated from the supercharger. It is a kind of revolution for us and at the moment it is working very well. We have improved some gaps on the driveability side that we had in the past ”.
You are in the middle between Piastri and Alonso, you can be a reference for Oscar but Fernando is a target. Are you scared of Oscar’s presence in the team?
“I know he’s fast, I’ve already seen him at the end of season tests when we shared the garage and followed him last year in Formula 2. To be honest I think it’s a shame I didn’t find a seat in Formula 1 this season, but I told him it won’t be long before he succeeds. I wish him the best for the future and I hope he can be our rider ”.
In which area will Alpine bring updates to Bahrain?
“We have a planned development program. There will be small updates for Bahrain, but we have a long-term plan that will allow us to grow quickly ”.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A522
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Goal for this year?
“It is still too early to tell. We have to wait a few races before giving an answer. My goal is to finish each race with a smile. Give your best and seize all opportunities “.
How far are you from pushing the car to the limit, 100%?
“At the moment we are very far away. We are not pushing because the current goal is not to make mistakes. We are very far from the limit. In Bahrain, if the team will allow me, I will push harder ”.
This year will be the 40th anniversary of the death of Gilles Villeneuve, how do you consider it?
“Yes absolutely and I’m happy that this year we can go back to racing in Canada and it will be special”.
Who was your idol?
“Michael Schumacher because he changed the mentality of this sport. Professionalism in the paddock has changed dramatically. He pushed the study of detail and being one with the team to the maximum “.
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