F1 | Ocon learned “quite a lot” from teammate Alonso
Esteban Ocon made the most of his opportunity to learn from two time champion Alpine teammate Fernando Alonso in 2021
Esteban Ocon has just completed his second season since returning to Formula 1 in 2020, and his first season alongside a returning Fernando Alonso. Ocon says he has learned a lot from the two time drivers’ champion, highlighting race starts as an example.
Still got it... never lost it 😍
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 19, 2021
The legend @alo_oficial returned in 2021 and showed that he's still one of the most determined drivers in F1 💪#F1 #ElPlan @AlpineF1Team pic.twitter.com/HWIw80uH6B
"I've picked up quite a lot of things from him [Alonso], looking at his first laps, which is something I've always been doing.
"I've always been following him, what he was doing, and yet, towards the end of the year, I was only gaining positions not losing any and I was doing great first laps."
Hungarian Grand Prix winner Ocon went on to state he had been measuring his own performances against those of Alonso, returning from a two year hiatus from the sport in which he competed in other series including the World Endurance Championship, since the beginning of pre-season testing. Alonso, who Ocon deems a legend of the sport, proved he is still a capable driver despite his time away with stand out performances such as his podium in Qatar.
Ocon managed to finish the season just seven points shy of his more experienced teammate, although his points tally may be considered skewed by his shock win in Budapest, a result which he applauded Alonso’s robust defence against Hamilton to help him clinch.
I don’t know what to write I’m lost for words, we just won the Hungarian @f1 Grand Prix i will forever remember this moment !!🔥
— Esteban Ocon (@OconEsteban) August 1, 2021
Thank you to @AlpineF1Team without them I would not have make it, and what a drive by the legend himself @alo_oficial he’s part of this too 🔥 #P1 pic.twitter.com/PpbyTOD4oL
“I think it's a privilege to be working alongside a legend like him, and I did put him as a reference for sure, in the beginning of the year, and I was happy to see that I was matching him in terms of pace and we were pushing each other," He added.
“That, in the end, gave the team the maximum that we could have basically and we were extracting the maximum out of the package for most of the time, so that was good."
