Esteban Ocon needs to think more when he overtakes his teammate, according to Otmar Szafnauer
Esteban Ocon has had some on-track altercations with his teammates since his debut in F1. Otmar Szafnauer would like the Frenchman to take fewer risks when in contact on the track with his teammate.
Following the double collision that occurred at the Brazilian Grand Prix between the two Alpines, the team had to calm its drivers down. Alpine does not want such a situation to happen again in the future. Both cars were heavily damaged as a result of this crash during the sprint race, and both drivers let important points slip away for the constructors’ championship.
Otmar Szafnauer hopes that Esteban Ocon will adapt his defenses when it comes to his teammate and wants the French driver to take more precautions in this situation.
He probably must make better judgments when his teammates are next to him, because you don’t win in the first round, teammate or not, says the team manager of Alpine to Autosport.
Beyond the financial aspect that a collision in Formula 1 represents, Otmar Szafnauer mainly thinks about the team and the consequences that such an event entails when it involves two drivers from the same racing team. The impact on the world championship for constructors is catastrophic in such a situation.
And if you are aggressive against a competitor and both of you go out, both of you lose. If you are aggressive against your teammate and both of you go out, guess who loses? raises Otmar Szafnauer.
A gain of maturity.
However, despite these numerous warnings, the leader of the French team believes that Esteban Ocon has gained maturity. The consistency of the French driver throughout the 2022 season is impressive, as he has been able to show himself at the forefront in the majority of qualifying sessions and races. He has also proven to hold his ground against drivers from top teams who were driving much faster cars than his Alpine.
“I think it was even more impressive for me in wet conditions, drying out at Suzuka, not an easy track to drive on, with Lewis behind you, in a faster car all the time, and you finish ahead of him,” comments Otmar Szafnauer. The French team leader believes that Ocon has shown his maturity throughout the season with the highlight being his battle with Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese Grand Prix.
