Esteban Ocon thinks that Haas’ recent improvement should serve as “an example to every team” amid rumours linking him with a Formula 1 move to the side in 2025.
Haas introduced a substantial upgrade package at the British Grand Prix which enabled Nico Hulkenberg to replicate his sixth-place finish from Austria at Silverstone.
The German will depart Haas once this season concludes to switch to Sauber/Audi, with Ferrari prospect Oliver Bearman having been announced as his replacement.
However, Kevin Magnussen’s chances at remaining with the team are not guaranteed and Haas boss Ayao Komatsu has revealed that Ocon is on the team’s shortlist.
Ocon, who is in his last season with Alpine, has praised the step the American squad has taken in recent races as speculation continues that he will partner Bearman.
“They’ve been improving a lot, which is for sure an example for every other team, how they are doing it at the moment,” Ocon said when asked about Haas’ showing.
However, the Frenchman insisted that there was nothing to disclose concerning his 2025 plans, though he did divulge that talks with certain teams were progressing.
“There’s nothing more to say on that,” he added regarding next season. “I’ve said already what I had to say on Thursday. We are obviously working on my future.
“There are good discussions going on and I hope that I will be able to announce very soon.”
Alpine went into last weekend having accrued points in four consecutive rounds, but the Enstone-based squad’s improved run came to a halt with a nightmare outing.
Ocon lambasted his team over the calls that saw him eliminated in Q1 and his race prospects were undone when Alpine made a premature move on to Intermediates.
Unlike Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez, Ocon ventured back into the pits to resolve the mistake, but the damage was done as he trailed home two laps down in 16th.
“There’s nothing brave about that race,” he reviewed. “Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.
“We took every wrong decision from before the race to on the grid to during the race. Every call or information were the wrong ones.
“There’s not much more to say about this weekend.
“I think we just turned the page and we go again in Budapest, which is a very good track. We hope to be back to where we should be. But today, it was a very difficult one.”
Ocon is hopeful the tight and twisting Hungaroring should suit Alpine’s A524 car better, but he has warned the team must execute the weekend better to score points.
“We need to optimise everything,” he contended.
“For us to be able to fight with the other guys, we need to be perfect on every single decision, optimise the car set-up, because otherwise we’re outside the top 10.
“So, on a weekend like Budapest, we should have the capability to be fighting for good things, but there’s no guarantee.
“Because after this weekend, it really shows that we need to do everything perfect, otherwise we are not there.”
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