Esteban Ocon has urged his Alpine Formulation 1 crew to seek 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 classes 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 mean of over three tenths slower over the six grid-deciding classes for the reason that US GP.
The Frenchman completed down in seventeenth place within the final race in Las Vegas, the place Gasly certified third and was working within the high 10 earlier than an engine downside pressured him into retirement.
“I feel, you recognize, one automotive, Pierre, was fast since Austin,” Ocon mentioned after the Las Vegas race.
“Sadly, we’re not quick since Austin and that would value us as effectively within the championship.
“So we have to determine what precisely is happening and hopefully enhance the state of affairs for the following two. However yeah, in the mean time it appears tough for us.
Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524
Picture by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Pictures
“I used to be counting just a little bit extra on a excessive degradation race, extra of the tyre administration race like final 12 months to have the ability to battle again.
“And that is what we had been doing effectively, however sadly once you drive by way of for nothing and you set your self into that penalty then it isn’t good,” mentioned Ocon after dropping numerous time when he drove into the pits solely to seek out his mechanics weren’t prepared.
Ocon mentioned in Las Vegas that he hoped Alpine was treating him pretty, and crew boss Oliver Oakes insisted each automobiles had been precisely the identical.
“Yeah, clearly I noticed his remark – he has type of been just a little bit off Pierre in comparison with the place he appreciated to be,” mentioned Oakes.
“However, from our facet, each automobiles are the identical, they have the improve – simply one thing that we will preserve trying into to make it extra comfy.”
Ocon additionally dismissed that he was battling 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 crew to try to enhance the state of affairs. However yeah, since Austin, it appears to not work in any respect. And we have to ensure that this isn’t the case anymore.”
Ocon will depart Alpine on the finish of the season to affix Oliver Bearman at Haas.