Esteban Ocon spoke ahead of Alpine’s A521 car launch on a range of topics from fitness to the new season and partnering Fernando Alonso.
Having driven for the team last season under Renault’s name and French nationality, Ocon is ‘very excited’ to again be racing for the team despite a rebrand to Alpine with the French colours featuring on the livery making him feel ‘very proud.’
Ocon spent the winter break focused on his fitness in the high-altitude Pyrenees and driving an Alpine at Rallye Monte-Carlo, which he believes is ‘very good preparation’ and has left him in a positive place, saying: “For the moment, I’m in one of the best shapes I’ve been in for a long time. We’ve changed a few things in my development and that all seems to be working well.”
The Frenchman also engaged in simulator practice on his home set-up in order to maintain his ‘competitive edge’, which will be crucial ahead of a 23 race season in 2021.
Discussing the lengthy calendar, Ocon feels that both the team and drivers need to pace themselves in order to save energy for when required and take care of themselves.
The 24 year-old meanwhile pointed to the final five races as potentially a huge test when fatigue will begin to engulf drivers and teams, saying: “I think the final five races will be difficult as that’s when you start to run out of battery. We’ll push hard, that’s needed, but it’s important to look after each and every person on the team.”
This long season also comes after a cramped 2020 campaign which saw teams contest 17 races across 163 days, with the season concluding just 12 days before Xmas as Ocon celebrated his first F1 podium in the Sakhir Grand Prix at start of last December.
Speaking on the benefits of claiming his first podium finish, Ocon believes that moment has done ‘a lot of good things’ for his confidence, although the aim now is to enjoy more podiums, commenting: “Now we have ticked that box, that’s one thing done, but we want to have more of them and that’s very clear.”
Ocon however is aware that Alpine’s rivals have been ‘working hard’ so feels that podium finishes this season will be ‘close’, especially with his ex Force India teammate – Sergio Perez now racing at Red Bull this season.
Bearing in mind the potentially increased competition, Ocon feels that he must ‘start stronger’ after a strong conclusion to 2020 without laying down too many goals, as he said: “I want to start on that level straight away and find more improvements throughout the year.”
This season however sees Ocon becomes the team leader after Daniel Ricciardo’s departure to McLaren, as Fernando Alonso returns after a two-year hiatus, with the Frenchman looking forward to the ‘privilege’ of partnering the two-time F1 champion and hopes for ‘a great collaboration.’
There will also be a new Alpine A521 for Ocon to get to grips with but the ex Mercedes junior is already aware of several key parts due to a series of carry-overs from 2020, although he feels that the aerodynamic rule changes will be ‘exciting’ to develop with more knowledge of the car than previous.
That knowledge plus 2021 upgrade testing towards the climax of last season therefore has left Ocon confident that he has a good launchpad for the year ahead, saying: “We’ve tested some 2021 parts in 2020, so I think we have good knowledge and a solid base to begin the year. I think that will help me get that feeling straight away.”
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