Esteban Ocon has urged his Alpine Method 1 group to search out solutions about his lack of tempo in comparison with team-mate Pierre Gasly since america Grand Prix.
Ocon had outqualified Gasly 14 instances to seven within the first 21 qualifying and dash qualifying periods of the season, however the pattern modified over the Austin weekend.
Since then, Ocon has solely managed to outqualify his team-mate as soon as, ending a median of over three tenths slower over the six grid-deciding periods because the US GP.
The Frenchman completed down in seventeenth place within the final race in Las Vegas, the place Gasly certified third and was operating within the high 10 earlier than an engine drawback pressured him into retirement.
“I feel, you understand, one automotive, Pierre, was fast since Austin,” Ocon mentioned after the Las Vegas race.
“Sadly, we’re not quick since Austin and that might value us as nicely within the championship.
“So we have to determine what precisely is occurring and hopefully enhance the scenario for the subsequent two. However yeah, in the meanwhile it appears troublesome for us.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
“I used to be counting a little bit bit extra on a excessive degradation race, extra of the tyre administration race like final 12 months to have the ability to combat again.
“And that is what we had been doing nicely, however sadly whenever you drive by means of for nothing and you place your self into that penalty then it is not good,” mentioned Ocon after dropping plenty of time when he drove into the pits solely to search out his mechanics weren’t prepared.
Ocon mentioned in Las Vegas that he hoped Alpine was treating him pretty, and group boss Oliver Oakes insisted each automobiles had been precisely the identical.
“Yeah, clearly I noticed his remark – he has kind of been a little bit bit off Pierre in comparison with the place he appreciated to be,” mentioned Oakes.
“However, from our aspect, each automobiles are the identical, they have the improve – simply one thing that we are able to preserve trying into to make it extra comfy.”
Ocon additionally dismissed that he was scuffling with the under-rotation of the automotive in comparison with Gasly’s: “No, it is clearly not that for positive.”
He added: “We’ll see. We’re working with the group to try to enhance the scenario. However yeah, since Austin, it appears to not work in any respect. And we have to guarantee that this isn’t the case anymore.”
Ocon will depart Alpine on the finish of the season to affix Oliver Bearman at Haas.