Esteban Ocon expects to be ahead of the Mercedes at Barcelona
After strong performances in Monaco and Miami, Alpine is looking to continue on this momentum. Esteban Ocon believes that the team can compete with Ferrari and Mercedes.
Alpine performed better this weekend in Monaco. Esteban Ocon made it to the podium while Pierre Gasly secured a seventh-place finish. A glimmer of hope in the French team’s challenging start to the season. Alpine had brought updates to their car, which should have been present during the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. After already showing a good performance in Miami, where a new floor had been introduced to the car, the team expects further improvements.
Alpine believes in a strong performance in Spain
That’s why Alpine wants to believe in a good performance in Spain, and not just a car tuned for Monaco. I don’t think it’s a special car for Monaco. We brought significant upgrades to Imola, but also for Barcelona, said Esteban Ocon.
Confidence has returned to Alpine. The French team has achieved two good results and left behind the mistakes and poor performances of the early Grand Prix races. Additionally, with improvements made to Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon’s car, the French drivers may finally achieve the team’s objective of competing with Mercedes and Ferrari.
« I expect to be above the Mercedes and on the same level as the Ferrari. Max Verstappen is too far ahead, Sergio Perez as well when he’s at his best. », stated Esteban Ocon. « Fernando Alonso will be difficult to catch up with. But I don’t see why we couldn’t race with Ferrari and Mercedes. That’s what we did in Miami and Monaco as well. », continued the French driver.
Evolution for Barcelona
Esteban Ocon is not the only one in his team to think that. His engineer, Alan Permane, also had positive comments about the car’s performances. According to him as well, the French duo’s car is capable of fighting for top positions.
« We expect to have a good performance in Barcelona. […] Like in Monaco, or even better. […] The circuit will give us a much better understanding of the car, things that work and don’t work. We have an upgrade for this weekend, like in most Grand Prix », revealed Alan Permane.
Alpine, like last season, is therefore looking to improve throughout the season, in order to catch up with the accumulated delay. Just like in Monaco and Miami, the French team aims to compete with Ferrari and Mercedes.
