Formula 1 News: Esteban Ocon Expects Chassis Rotation to Continue at Alpine

Alpine Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon revealed that he anticipates his team will continue to rotate its heavier chassis, which has been “a couple of kilos” overweight since the Miami Grand Prix. This decision comes after Ocon’s disappointing qualifying result in Canada, where he struggled with a heavier car compared to his teammate Pierre Gasly.

Despite the challenges, both Gasly and Ocon managed to score points in Montreal, with Ocon attributing part of his deficit to the weight difference between the two cars. “It’s been a couple of events that my car is quite a lot heavier than Pierre’s,” Ocon explained. “We will rotate fairly in the year, that is very clear, but since Miami that is the case. When all these things add up, it makes it difficult to go through Q1.”

“It’s still very close.”

• Pierre Gasly

The weight disparity between the two cars is understood to be around 3kg, which translates to approximately one-tenth per lap. As Alpine strives to get closer to the minimum weight limit, it’s expected that both drivers will swap chassis again later in the season to maintain fairness.

Gasly, who started the season with Alpine’s lighter chassis, corroborated Ocon’s statement, saying, “He was lighter at the start of the year and then obviously we swap parts, so I’m one kilo lighter or something like that. It’s still very close.”

Formula 1 Today: Ocon’s Departure and Team Dynamics

Earlier this month, it was announced that Ocon will be leaving Alpine at the end of the season. The announcement came amid tensions between Ocon and Gasly following their on-track incident in Monaco.

Despite the circumstances, Alpine team principal Bruno Famin emphasized the importance of ending Ocon’s tenure on a high note, given the team’s ongoing battle for seventh position in the constructors’ championship. “I think Esteban can count on all the team to help him to get the best result because Esteban having the best result is helping the team having the best possible result,” Famin told Motorsport.com.

Famin reassured that Ocon will receive the same support as Gasly, stating, “We count on Esteban to bring everything he can bring to the team, we will not put him aside at all. He will have exactly the same condition as Pierre. They are on the same level, same status.”

With 15 grands prix remaining, Alpine is determined to make the most of its current lineup, focusing on its Formula 1 calendar and strategy. Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates on Alpine’s progress.

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