Esteban Ocon: “I think it’s going to be a tough weekend for us”
After Alpine's good performance at the Canadian Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon is tempering his optimism for this weekend in Barcelona, pointing to problems with the single-seater and the lack of improvements.

One can say that expectations are mixed at Alpine regarding the performance of the car this weekend in Barcelona. This is the feeling that Esteban Ocon conveyed to the print journalists on Thursday, including MotorsInside.com. « I think it’s going to be a tough weekend for us. We are not bringing any upgrades this weekend »,” he explained.
Qualifications could be particularly tough due to the heat, which could complicate the car’s performance. However, the weather could play in their favor with rain forecast for Sunday. « We were quite competitive in Canada in the rain. I think it opened up opportunities, battles, and nice things that we hope to be on the right side of. »
Persistent issues at Alpine
Despite careful preparation, the team still has to deal with technical problems. “We still have some problems. Sometimes, the car bounces at high speed and it can destabilize it,” said the Frenchman. Nevertheless, the in-depth knowledge of the Barcelona circuit could give them an advantage. ” We know Barcelona so well that we will start with a fairly advanced setup. I hope we can find new things during the weekend compared to Canada where everything was new and we had to start from scratch,” he added.
Interviewed about the current state of the car, the Alpine driver admitted that shortcomings remain. Is the car at its best at low and high speeds? I think if you look at the GPS, to be honest, we lack performance everywhere. A little bit everywhere. It makes a difference at the end of the lap. We lack speed on the straight, we lack minimum speed, we lack in most areas, I would say.
« More performances later »
On his side, Pierre Gasly highlights the progress made at Alpine since probably its worst start of the season in its history. « I think I have mentioned it several times, but obviously, it has been a bad start of the season. It has not been good in terms of performance, it has not met the expectations and the level of performance that we should have as a team like ours. »
He notes that there have been many internal changes since then, whether at the management level or operations, processes at the factory, many improvements in various departments, which do not immediately translate into better on-track performance the following week , he points out. There have been many green lights in various areas, which, I believe, will help improve and develop the car. But for now, obviously, we don’t see this performance. In general, race drivers are impatient and want to be competitive right away, but I know there will be more performance later in the year.
Look towards 2026: opportunities and challenges
Esteban Ocon also shared his thoughts on the future, especially on the 2026 season. “I think 2026 is going to be interesting because there will be much less freedom regarding aerodynamics. From there, who will have the best suspension, the best power unit? All of this will play a big role in terms of performance.” He also mentions the rumors that the FIA wants to tighten the gaps for closer races, which could make the competition even more exciting.
As for his expectations for a future team – as his contract with Alpine will not be extended next year -, the driver emphasizes the importance of a good working environment. « I think the most important thing is to have an environment where you feel supported, where you feel good, where you feel that everyone is working towards a common goal and having a good environment. There really is nothing more to ask for. Obviously, what is important is the project and the goal for the future. If all the right ingredients are gathered for a successful future, there is no reason to say no. »