“I had ups and downs with Ocon, everyone knows, but now we want the same thing”

Landing a new project for any pilot is not easy. New colleagues, new philosophy, new challenges… Neither for Pierre Gasley who left the Red Bull family for the first time to land Alpine instead of Fernando Alonso. It came on the rebound but it was the missing piece for the French to have two pilots of the same nationality. That’s why in the team, they all row as one, even if the past is included Esteban Ocon not the best at all. Like Esteban, he sat down with some of the Spanish newspapers and explained, not without haste because of other commitments, about his first feelings on his new adventure.

How do you rate the start of the year at Alpine?

“To be honest I think the situation is more complicated than the end of last season, excluding Monaco. Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon managed to finish fourth in the team championship and we hoped to take a step forward this year. But at the beginning of the campaign Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin are further behind us than we would like. We are pushing to get into that fight. Miami made a big step and Monaco did very well. There are signs that we have potential and the whole thing is working team to improve and find faster. Monaco is obviously better and we can build from there.”

How optimistic are you after Ocon’s podium in Monaco?

“Monaco is the best weekend of the year. It’s important to know why the car is so good. After that GP, there were more smiles in the garage. The mood and mind is very positive and it’s important to keep that. I I’m very happy for to the team because it hasn’t been the best start to the year for all of us”.

In which parts of the car is there more room for improvement?

“I think you’re always looking for a little more of the same. A little more downforce in the car to go faster, manage the tires better. We’re trying to find the best balance, have more grip in the middle of the corners.”

How is your relationship with Ocon? Some people think you don’t get along…

“We’ve known each other since we were 9 years old, now 18. Obviously we know each other very well and we have our ups and downs, everyone knows that. In this season we have both gone forward. I want the best for the team and to be the best, I same for him. So far it’s been very easy to work with him.”

“What is the biggest difference compared to his stage in the Red Bull environment? Alonso in his time emphasized the steering wheel…

“The steering wheel is different and unique to each car. I don’t want to give too many details but there are also differences in the response of the engine, gear changes, the energy recuperator is different from what I’m used to. The sensitivity of the car is also different. Outside it’s like driving F1 cars is always the same, my friends say. Driving each one, you realize how different they are. It’s a big change. I won’t tell you one thing in particular. Every part of the engine, as well as the chassis concepts, are very different from what I’m used to”

Do those differences limit you?

“I don’t think so. It just takes time to refresh your references and comparisons. Obviously, what also needs time is working with the team, understanding what I want from the car and what answers I need while driving… There are there’s a lot of things we build on race by race and understand my riding style better. But it’s not something you get in one race.”

How big is the gap between the Alpine and Red Bull chasers?

“I think the gap with Mercedes and Ferrari is not as big as we saw in Monaco, where we passed them. I think it depends a lot on the circuit. In Miami, they were unreachable. We cannot fight them. But I still think the Aston Martin is clearly the second car on the grid consistently at every circuit”.

Can we say your goal for the season is to get a podium or not set a goal?

Man, if you ask me, I’d tell you that I want to be on the podium in every race. If we have the performance to do this many times? I do not know. I am confident that I will have another chance and the goal is to be ready, to find the performance to put ourselves in a position to keep fighting for it.”