Ocon will approach 2024 “in war mode”
After a rather disappointing 100% French first season for Alpine, it is time for Esteban Ocon to assess his performances and showcase his ambitions for 2024.
Esteban Ocon argues that his 2023 season with the Alpine Formula 1 team was a wasted opportunity, as he was hindered by too many retirements. The Frenchman also emphasizes that he will switch to “war mode” next year, focusing even more on his race and reducing distractions outside the cockpit.
Ocon’s season was marked by good points, such as his third place in Monaco, but also his fourth place in Las Vegas, despite starting 16th on the grid. However, he also suffered an impressive series of DNFs throughout the season. The French driver is even the one who has finished the fewest races this season, tied with Logan Sargeant. He is also the fourth most expensive driver in terms of damages caused to his team on the grid.
Interviewed by Autosport about his 2023 season, the Alpine driver tries to make the best of it: “« I think there have been very good things, very good opportunities that we have seized. But overall consistency was not there »,” he added, “« And we had too many DNFs. That cost us, I think, nine retirements in total, probably the highest among all drivers ».” In total, Alpine has retired 10 times this season.
« If we remove the problem we had with the gearbox in Singapore and the contact with Oscar Piastri in Austin, we could have been in the top 10 of the championship. That’s why it’s a bit of a wasted opportunity. »
Ocon insists on the fact that next season, he will focus more on racing than he has been able to do this year. « From January 2 until the first test, I will fully return to training camp. I will do more like I did in 2022, that is to say no social life, full speed, only racing. We have done a lot of different things and improvements off the track this year ».
« That will change next year. I will be back in war mode and fully focused on the racing side. Before that, there will be the team’s Christmas party, and there will be work on the simulator.
« I will be able to spend a few days to see my family whom I haven’t seen in a while. We will have a good time with friends, with Mick Schumacher, with all my friends in December as well, and then we will fully focus on next year. »
