Esteban Ocon believes Alpine is “taking a step forward in every area” for the 2024 Formula 1 season which will stand it in good stead to overcome its recent failings.
After a strong 2022 which saw it finish fourth in the Constructors’ Championship, Alpine had hoped to press on and make inroads into the leading teams last term.
However, the Enstone-based squad slipped behind both Aston Martin and McLaren in the pecking order to languish sixth at the conclusion of the previous campaign.
The parent Renault company sought to restructure the F1 management team midway through the season, resulting in Otmar Szafnauer departing as Team Principal.
With Bruno Famin now at the helm on a permanent basis, Ocon is convinced that Alpine is now heading in the right direction after enduring a year of upheaval in 2023.
“It’s true that the results haven’t come the way we wanted, especially last year,” Ocon said at the launch of Alpine’s 2024 challenger.
“In 2022 we were on the right path. But yes, last year was a bit of a step to the wrong direction, not where we wanted to be.
“Everyone is realising where we need to improve and actions have been taken.
“You are going to see our garages, you are going to see our hospitality, you are going to see how this year things that have been spoken about towards the whole last year and all of that, we are taking a step forward in every area differently.
“And that’s going to be very visual to you guys, so you will see.”
From changes to the operating procedure, Alpine has made a raft of alterations from a technical perspective, with the A524 a revolution in design compared to its predecessor.
Whilst time will tell whether the technical gamble pays off, things are clearer regarding the benefits of making changes behind the scenes.
Ocon is optimistic that such overhauls behind the scenes will “pay off on track”, including the opening of new roles in health care to help combat the gruelling schedule.
“There’s been a lot of things that have happened, new roles for the team, there’s been a health department, health care that’s been taking place, but that’s one of the new roles that’s going to be open in the team,” said Ocon.
“That’s something that we need, 24 races, super crucial. You know that we have everyone 100% on the 24 races and every details have been taken in account.
“I’ve received messages this year; I arrived, ‘how is your suit, how is the fit,’ all of this. This was not a question, for example, before.
“I’ve arrived into the car, we’ve done the seat fit. I can tell you it took 20 minutes to do the seat this year and I know exactly where I am in the car at the exact millimetres, you know.
“That wasn’t the case last year. Last year it took three-quarters of a day to do the seat and all of that is learning from one year to another, learning from the issues that we had.
“Now we just have to focus on the track and arrive there.”
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