“Fastest Teammate I’ve Had” – Esteban Ocon Shuns Daniel Ricciardo in His Praise of Fernando Alonso

Alpine driver, Esteban Ocon has had the privilege of driving alongside Daniel Ricciardo for one season. However, with the Australian leaving for McLaren for the 2021 season, the French team brought in 2-time world champion, Fernando Alonso.

Ocon was full of praises,  for the Spanish driver; even calling him the fastest teammate that he has had. This got the Formula One community thinking if it was a dig at his former teammate, Ricciardo.

Esteban Ocon praises Alonso for his speed, snubbing Ricciardo

Having a 2-time world champion as your teammate can be a gift and a curse. In the case of Ocon, he is glad to learn from the Spanish driver, completing him for his pace around the F1 track.

Speaking to Motorsport.com, Ocon said, “He’s an absolutely terrific driver, very fast and the fastest teammate I’ve had in a long time. I was very happy working with him, I learned a lot from him. I think Fernando has a different mindset compared to other drivers.”

“He’s pushing the boundaries of strategies to get the most out of everything, and I’ve definitely learned a lot about it. Also in terms of racing, I think I’ve gained a lot by looking at his first laps. It’s something I’ve always done.”

“I always followed what he was doing and towards the end of the year I started gaining positions, never losing and my first laps were great. So it’s a privilege to work alongside a legend like him,” Ocon concluded. (Tranlsted from Turkish via Google)

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The French driver is part of Alpine’s future

After having a one-year hiatus Ocon rejoined the Formula One grid in 2020 with Reanult now known as Alpine. In his first season with the team, he had a poor campaign as he finished the year in twelfth place with sixty-two points. But one aspect that stood was his podium at the Sakir Grand Prix.

In 2021, he bagged his first win in Formula One at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Additionally, the Enstone-based team gave him a contract that ensure he stays with Alpine till 2024. Seeing that the French team has faith in him, he hopes to meet their expectations by scoring more podiums and winning races in the coming years.

With his third season with Alpine just a few months away, what are your predictions for Ocon in 2022? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.

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