F1 | Abu Dhabi GP | Esteban Ocon on P9: "A good race for us."
The French driver is pleased with his performance, and, most importantly, having achieved the team goal of holding on to P5 in the constructors'standings.
Alpine concluded their first season in F1 after their rebranding with a double top ten finish, and the securing of P5 in the constructors'championship over an increasingly close AlphaTauri.
Hungary GP winner Esteban Ocon was still allowed to start in his qualifying position, P9, as he was punished only with a reprimand and a fine for the team after impeding Sebastian Vettel in Q2, and kept his position after all the 58 laps at Yas Marina.
Mission accomplished, ending the season with both cars in the points and P5 in the championship. Here's your #AbuDhabiGP race debrief with @OconEsteban and @alo_oficial! #F1Finale #ElPlan pic.twitter.com/vFIZ3ZtaPO
— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) December 12, 2021
The French driver ended the season with a total of 74 points, that got him the eleventh place in the drivers' championship, just behind his teammate Fernando Alonso. Ocon was pretty satisfied by his Abu Dhabi performance, as he said after the race, highlighting the importance of another double points finishing:
"In terms of today, I’d say it was a good race for us. We did well on the strategy we had going from Softs to Hards on a one-stop."
"We didn’t benefit from the virtual safety car and we lost two places there unfortunately," he added, recalling the VSC originated by Giovinazzi's shift issue, that caused his retirement.
However, the French driver isn't fazed by the loss, as he went on to thank the team for their glorious season, crowned by their first win in eight years, looking happy to have improved his 2020 final result by more than 10 points.
"Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t, that’s the way it is! I’m very happy to end the season on a strong note and that’s a positive," Ocon added.
"Very pleased, obviously, with the season. I think we had all the emotions possible in the team: great emotions for the win, great emotions obviously for the podium of Fernando, frustration with Saudi Arabia..."
"Some difficult moments that we overcame, but what an hell of a ride it was! It was mega, and I'm happy to have lived that all.
"Thanks to everyone at Alpine F1 Team at Enstone and Viry for their hard work all season. Let’s keep pushing!" he concluded, ready to focus on the new 2022 season.
She scored 155 points this year, won the #HungarianGP, took 3rd in #QatarGP and sported the best livery all year. Today was her last race, and what an #AbuDhabiGP!
— Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) December 12, 2021
Merci #A521, you've given us an awesome season!
What's been your fave #A521 moment? pic.twitter.com/ugYVZ6jiyZ
