Formula 1 News: Alpine to Delay Car Upgrades Until Summer Break, Ocon Reveals
As the Formula 1 calendar approaches the halfway mark, Esteban Ocon has disclosed that Alpine will not be introducing significant upgrades to its car until after the summer break. While the team has struggled with an overweight and uncompetitive A524 challenger, which has yielded only five points from the opening nine races, Ocon confirmed that the focus will be on maximizing the current car’s potential.
Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix, Ocon stated, “We’re not going to have any updates until summer break, around the shutdown. Before or after, if I’m correct.” He added, “We have to try and maximize the potential of the car that we have in hand.” Although the team will not bring substantial upgrades, Ocon mentioned that some weight-saving parts will be introduced, along with new pitstop equipment.
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya represents a crucial test for Alpine, with Ocon eager to see where the team stands in normal conditions. “It’s a good testing ground. We’ll see exactly where we are on normal conditions. I expect this weekend to be quite tough, especially if the others make a jump,” he noted.
Formula 1 Today: Alpine Seeks Consistency Amidst Upgrades Delays
Despite capitalizing on a chaotic race in mixed conditions in Canada to secure a double points finish, Ocon cautioned that it would be premature to claim that Alpine has now understood its problems. “We are moving forward. We are progressing. We are on top of things is a very strong statement,” he said. “I don’t think we’re on top of things. Because if we’re on top of things, we’ll be fighting for podiums and wins. And that’s not where we are.”
Ocon believes that Alpine’s deficit with its revised A524 is spread across the board but remains hopeful that the team can be on the right side of close margins this weekend. “I don’t think there is a good place for the car where we have fast and fast corners or slow and slow corners. I don’t think it is the case,” he explained.
Formula 1 Standings: Ocon Aims for Tight Margin in Qualifying
With the team currently sitting in eighth place in the standings, Ocon is focused on securing a strong result in Barcelona. “We know Barcelona so well that we are going to start with a pretty advanced setup already. I hope that we can find some more things during the weekend,” he said. “Compared to Canada where everything was new and we had to start from quite further away. Hopefully, we can discover some new things. It’s going to be very tight in quali. I hope we are going to be on the good end of things.”
In other news, Ocon revealed that team-mate Pierre Gasly will use the heavier chassis this weekend, as the two drivers have been alternating. When asked whether he would be laboured with the heavier car in Barcelona, Ocon replied, “No, we’ve rotated, which probably the equal treatment statement comes from. So, no, I’m going to have Pierre’s car, basically, this weekend.”
Stay tuned for the latest Formula 1 news and updates throughout the Spanish Grand Prix weekend.
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