Esteban Ocon will be hoping for a more positive result this weekend at the Japanese Grand Prixafter the BWT Alpine F1 Team drivers walked away from Singapore scoring no points.
Ocon left the Marina Bay Street Circuit disappointed, after he was unable to finish the race due to having an engine problem with his car.
The Frenchman still sits in eighth place in the Drivers’ Standings; however, an impressive performance from their rivals this season McLaren F1 teamsaw both of their drivers finish fourth and fifth in the race and in doing so, leapfrogged Alpine in the Constructors’ Championship as the battle for fourth place continues to intensify.
Ocon believes the events that occurred in Singapore do not reflect the competitiveness of the car, as the French driver is happy to be back again at his favorite track on the Formula 1 calendar.
“How the weekend unfolded for us in Singapore did not reflect how competitive the car was and the potential we know it has. We were very disappointed to walk away with two engine-related retirements and I know the team is working hard to get to the bottom of the issues to ensure they do not happen again. Days like these happen in racing unfortunately, but we’ve got a chance to bounce back quickly in Suzuka this week.
“It’s great to be back in Japan, a country many of us haven’t been to since 2019. On my side, I haven’t raced here since 2018 which seems like a very long time ago. Suzuka I think is one of the most exciting tracks in the world and definitely my favorite on the F1 calendar. The atmosphere is really amazing, and the fans are always so passionate and very knowledgeable. I hope they are as happy to have us back as we are to be back in this beautiful country and at such a historic track.”
Fernando Alonso: “This place holds some good memories for me and the fans are always so great.”
Fernando Alonso will also be hoping for a better result this weekend as he retired for the second race in a row last time out at the Singapore Grand Prixafter scoring points in ten consecutive races before.
Last weekend Alonso made history in Singapore, with the Spaniard now having the most Formula 1 race starts with three hundred and fifty. However, the race itself couldn’t have gone any worse for Alonso on such a momentous occasion, as he was unable to finish the race due to an issue with the car, similar to his team-mate’s.
As we now head to the Suzuka International Racing CourseAlonso reflected on his memories of this old school circuit, after he won at this track back in 2006, as he is hoping sixteen years on from that victory that he can create another special moment in front of the Japanese fans.
“Suzuka is a thrilling test for Formula 1 drivers. It’s a historic track and one of the most fun places to drive. We go from a street circuit to a more traditional track this weekend, but it has several challenging corners and sequences. The weather can be mixed too so you don’t know what to expect. I also love the culture in Japan and the fans can create such a special atmosphere.
“It’s for sure one of my favorites of the year. I’ve had a lot of good memories there. I think one of my best moments was the overtake on Michael [Schumacher] going into the famous 130R corner. It was a good overtake and not somewhere that is easy to make that move given the sheer speed of the corner.”
“We won the race in 2006 as well which was a huge moment in the Championship heading into the season finale in Brazil. This place holds some good memories for me and the fans are always so great.”
Credit: BWT Alpine F1 Team
