Ocon wants answers to understand pace slump against Alpine team-mate

Esteban Ocon has urged his Alpine group to seek out solutions about his lack of tempo in comparison with team-mate Pierre Gasly since the USA Grand Prix.

Ocon had outqualified Gasly 14 occasions to seven within the first 21 qualifying and dash qualifying classes of the season, however the pattern modified in 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 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 compelled him into retirement.

“I feel, you recognize, one automotive, Pierre, was fast since Austin,” Ocon stated after the Las Vegas race.

“Sadly, we aren’t quick since Austin and that would value us as effectively within the championship.

“So we have to work out what precisely is occurring and hopefully enhance the scenario for the subsequent two. However yeah, in the mean time it appears troublesome for us.

“I used to be counting a little bit bit extra on a excessive degradation race, extra of the tyre administration race like final yr to have the ability to combat again.

“And that is what we have been doing effectively, however sadly if you drive by means of for nothing and you place your self into that penalty then it is not good,” stated Ocon after shedding a number of time when he drove into the pits solely to seek out his mechanics weren’t prepared.

Ocon stated in Las Vegas that he hoped Alpine was treating him pretty, and group boss Oliver Oakes insisted each vehicles have been precisely the identical.

“Yeah, clearly I noticed his remark, I feel clearly afterwards he kind of meant… He has kind of been a little bit bit off Pierre in comparison with the place he favored to be,” stated Oakes.

“However from our aspect, you recognize, each vehicles are the identical, they have the improve – simply one thing that we will maintain trying into to make it extra snug.”

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 are going to see. We’re working with the group to attempt to enhance the scenario. However yeah, since Austin, it appears to not work in any respect exterior. And we have to guarantee that this isn’t the case anymore.”

Ocon will go away Alpine on the finish of the season to hitch Oliver Bearman at Haas.