In charge of occupying the place that it was before Renault in the paddock, the Alpine F1 will debut at the Grand Prix of Portugal and at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (AIA). Appropriate time to talk to your pilots, Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon , about their expectations for the third event on the calendar.
As expected, the conversation started with the opinion of the two-time world champion about the Portuguese circuit, with Alonso showing himself to be a fan of the track where the Razão Automóvel team has also raced in the C1 Trophy (although at much lower speeds) .
Despite never having competed in the AIA, the Spanish driver knows the circuit, not only thanks to the simulators, but also in the tests he has already had the opportunity to carry out, which led him to describe the Portuguese track as being “fantastic and challenging”. For this, according to the Alpine F1 driver, the fact that practically no section of the circuit is identical to any other on any other track contributes.
moderate expectations
While both Alpine F1 drivers showed appreciation for the Portimão circuit, on the other hand, Alonso and Ocon were cautious about expectations for this weekend. After all, both recalled that the differences in the peloton are very small and the slightest error or break in form pays dearly.In addition, both for the two-time world champion and for his young colleague, the A521, the Alpine F1 single-seater, needs to evolve much more, having even seen a drop in performance compared to last year's car.
However, taking into account the difficulties of Renault in Portimão in 2020, the Alpine F1 drivers point out as goals to reach Q3 (the third stage of qualifying) and score points in the Portuguese race. As for the favorite to win, Ocon was adamant: “I think the win will smile on Max Verstappen“.
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Ideal year to innovate
We were able to ask the Alpine F1 drivers about the new qualifying sprint races as well. About these, both pilots showed themselves supporters of the measure. In Alonso's words:
Fernando Alonso"It's a good idea to change something to make racing weekends more exciting. 2021 is the ideal year to try new things as it is a transition year for the new rules."
Regarding the new rules, Fernando Alonso assumed that this is where Alpine F1 is most focused, as they will allow the Formula 1 squad to “balance”. cars will be slower. Still, it seems to me that it will be easier to overtake and the races should be tighter.”
There is still a lot to discuss
When looking at the current squad, there is something that stands out: the “mix” between experience (there are four world champions on the track) and youth.
On this subject, Ocon "has shaken off the pressure", assuming that the presence in the team of a driver like Alonso not only allows him to learn but also motivates him, as "all young people want to show that they can fight the best".
Alonso recalled that this mixture allows races where the various drivers take completely different approaches, some based on experience and others on pure speed.
As for expectations for this Alpine F1 season, Alonso was focused on the future, while Ocon assumed that repeating a podium as he did at the Sakhir GP in 2020 will be difficult. However, he recalled that there is still a lot to discover about the car's potential.
Finally, none of them wanted to commit to predictions for the championship. Although both Alonso and Ocon recognize that, for now, everything points in the direction of a “Hamilton vs Verstappen” fight, the Alpine drivers recalled that the championship is still in its infancy and only around the 10th or 11th race will it be possible have hard data that point in the direction of favorites.