Regardless of revealing that he spent the winter battling the illness, Esteban Ocon insists he’s in full kind and is trying ahead to the brand new Method 1 season.
Ocon’s compatriot Pierre Gasly joined Alpine this season, which has an all-French squad following Fernando Alonso’s departure to Aston Martin. Alpine completed fourth in final 12 months’s constructors’ championship after a tense battle with McLaren.
Ocon desires the workforce to compete within the high positions this 12 months, however revealed that he had a troublesome time in the course of the winter break.
FIRST LOOK: Alpine completes 2023 F1 grid with A523 automobile launch
“I’ve mentioned earlier than that I used to be actually sick in the course of the winter so I needed to work laborious to get the very best situation and that is what I did. Earlier than Alpine launched its model new A523 F1 automobile, it was powerful however glad with the outcome and now it is prepared to start out,” he mentioned. .
“I really feel stronger, I can say I am stronger than ever as a result of [of] continuity with this workforce, many extra years of being underneath my belt, attending to know final 12 months’s automobile so effectively – it was laborious to grasp how issues labored with this automobile – however now we’ve got a second 12 months with the identical association. “The identical workforce and the identical individuals round me, it is a good second to maintain transferring ahead.”
Having collected 92 factors with Alpine final 12 months, Ocon had his highest scoring season thus far in F1. This season would be the French driver’s first to make three full-time titles in a row with a workforce, and Ocon mentioned it is going to solely assist him turn into a greater driver.
“So I really feel good,” he continued, “expertise and realizing issues have helped me over time, and my progress hasn’t stopped but. So long as I really feel like I am making progress, I am completely satisfied.
“I really feel motivated and prepared – we positively had a superb winter break to consider the whole lot and simply recharge the batteries and are available again sturdy.”
GALLERY: Look at the A523 from each angle as we reveal two completely different seems to be for Alpine 2023
“We have now an incredible story to write down,” mentioned Esteban Ocon of Pierre Gasly, forward of their 2023 journey with Alpine.
Fourth place within the championship additionally represented Alpine’s finest end since their rebranding from Renault, and Ocon has excessive hopes for his workforce and their model new A523.
“Clearly, we missed the rostrum end final 12 months, which is one thing I might positively prefer to take a step again from – ending on the rostrum would have been completely incredible for us.”
AS IT IS: Watch Alpine unveil the brand new A523 on the ultimate automobile launch of 2023
“Extra importantly, shut the hole to 3rd place within the builders standings. If we end fourth once more, which isn’t a certain factor – it is at all times laborious to come back by – but when we end fourth, it is very shut to 3rd, I feel that will be higher.” Have an excellent and strong season.
“But when we will shut the hole in third place, it is positively an incredible season. We’ll maintain that in thoughts – we’ll concentrate on ourselves first, get the exams proper, do our greatest. Try this and prepare for the primary race.”
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