Alpine F1 Faces Challenging Race at Imola

Imola, Italy – The Alpine F1 team encountered a tough race at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, with drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly finishing 14th and 16th respectively, despite varied strategies and efforts to climb the grid.

Race Recap:

• Esteban Ocon: Starting from P12 on new medium tires, Ocon crossed the finish line in P14. He made a single pit stop on lap 25, switching to new hard tires. His fastest lap time was 1 minute 21.304 seconds.
• Pierre Gasly: Gasly began the race in P15 on new soft tires. He pitted twice, first on lap 8 for new hard tires and then on lap 30 for new medium tires, ultimately finishing in P16. His fastest lap time was 1 minute 21.371 seconds.

Driver Insights:

• Esteban Ocon: Reflecting on the race, Ocon noted, "It was a difficult race today and, in the end, a tricky weekend overall. We lacked the pace to compete and did not have the speed to attack or defend, which limited our options in the race. We managed to hold position at the start but struggled to keep Lance [Stroll] behind in the beginning of the opening stint. Once he passed us, he pulled away, and we could not maintain ground to the others. We tried to extend our first stint to benefit from any teams making a late pit-stop, but that did not happen. We were not in the fight this weekend, but we keep going and we go again next week in Monaco. I have great memories from last year, so we go there with a positive frame of mind."
• Pierre Gasly: Gasly echoed the challenges, stating, "Unfortunately, we did not get it quite right today. We were not quick enough to compete higher up the grid and our intended strategy was too far away to pay off given how the race unfolded. In general, though, it felt like the car was less competitive than yesterday so we need to review as a team what we could have done better. Apart from that, the car felt more consistent at this track throughout the weekend so we need to make sure that we get the factors that we can control right. I’m looking forward to Monaco now, we have lots to analyze in the next couple of days to make sure we come prepared to the streets of Monte Carlo."

Team Principal’s Perspective:

• Bruno Famin: Team Principal Bruno Famin summarized the race, saying, "It was a difficult race for the team in Imola today. We lacked pace, and the alternative strategy we attempted with Pierre did not work as there were no incidents on track. The leaders of the race were very fast today, and we were caught early on with blue flags, which cost us additional time. We need to focus on our own performance and analyze the data to understand our race pace deficit. We can only control the areas we have in our hands. Next week we return to the legendary Monaco. It’s a race with fond memories for the team from last year, and we look forward to racing there again with a resilient and motivated attitude aiming for a good result."

Looking Ahead:

As the team turns its focus to the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, both drivers and the team principal emphasize the importance of analyzing their performance and preparing diligently. With positive memories from last year's race in Monaco, Alpine F1 remains hopeful for a stronger showing on the iconic street circuit.