Diverse fortunes in the tricolor clan in Formula 1 this season.
If Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 13th in the world championship, is experiencing the worst difficulties this season, mired in a capricious and inefficient car, his compatriot Esteban Ocon is enjoying himself with the Alpine team.
The Habs want to be more regular on the track and have been able to adapt their driving style to establish themselves as the leader of the Alpine team ahead of their teammate Fernando Alonso.
A more mature driver, now experienced in Formula 1 games and who intends to maintain this beautiful dynamic this Sunday on the Castellet circuit, in front of his public.
A better record than last season
A few hours before the start of the French Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon is 8th in the world championship.
With a total of 52 points, he does much better than Fernando Alonso, 10th in the standings with only 29 units.
The Frenchman was only ten years old when the Spaniard won two consecutive titles in 2005 and 2006, but today it is the native of Évreux who runs the house at Alpine.
Out of 11 Grand Prix contested this season, Ocon has reached the top 10 eight times and beaten his Iberian team-mate as many times.
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A nice record, much better than last season at the same time.
Mid-season in 2021, Esteban Ocon was 10th with 39 points.
A total largely inflated by his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix which had brought him 25 units.
Proof that the French driver wants to be much more regular in his performance.
To explain it, we must turn to the basic tool of any Formula 1 driver: the single-seater.
The Frenchman has mastered his Alpine A522 well this season, where Fernando Alonso regularly struggles with a few failures.
“Things are going pretty well at the moment, the car is gaining momentum and the team is bringing new things,” he confirmed at RMC last week.
A finding corroborated by a fine 5th place obtained in Austria three weeks ago on the occasion of the 100th Grand Prix of his career.
Clean piloting
Because yes, Esteban Ocon is now part of the furniture of Formula 1. At only 25 years old, he is a staple of the paddock but has been able, in the past, to annoy the competition with his attitude on the track.
In his early days, the Frenchman adopted fiery, aggressive driving, sometimes at the limit, as Sergio Perez, his former teammate at Force India, who later became Racing Point, can testify.
At the time, the cohabitation between the Frenchman and the Mexican could spark a few sparks and it was common to see the two drivers clash.
But the Habs have taken the lead and gained in maturity.
Now, Esteban Ocon wants to be calmer, less hot-headed and opts for more serious and thoughtful driving.
A style surely less spectacular but essential to gain in regularity but also the confidence of his team.
If the future of Fernando Alonso is dotted, the Norman is called to become the innkeeper at Alpine in the coming seasons.
In the meantime, Ocon will try to thrill the 200,000 spectators expected at Le Castellet this Sunday, some of whom will take their place in a stand in his name.
Only 10th on the starting line, a final podium remains hypothetical.
“A podium would make me particularly happy.
It would be like a victory for us.
If we can't do it regularly, a top 5 would be good, or get into the points with both cars, ”said Ocon in the columns of Auto hebdo.
A great challenge for the Frenchman, now firmly established in the premier category.