In the 2023 Mexican GP, the attention wasn’t solely on the race leaders. An engaging skirmish for the last points-earning position emerged between Nico Hulkenberg and Esteban Ocon. While the on-track action was riveting, what transpired off the track post-race made headlines. Seems like Formula 1 may have tensions run high, but, once in a while, offers fans a different kind of spectacle: the playful side of the people involved. The Circuit of The Americas recently served as the backdrop for this laughter-filled episode. During a visit to check on his latest investment, golf legend and new Alpine part-owner, Rory McIlroy, got roped into an impromptu game of putts with the Alpine drivers. To keep things fair, the golfing icon had a smaller target, while Ocon and Gasly aimed for a larger hole.

Ocon, against expectations, managed to pot into the smaller hole. Despite the genuine accomplishment, Gasly couldn’t resist poking fun, reminding Ocon, “That doesn’t count. We said the big hole.” McIlroy, enjoying the banter, declared Ocon’s shot valid for him, leading Gasly to tease, “You played the wrong hole.” Moving from golfing greens to the racetracks of the 2023 F1 Mexican GP, Esteban Ocon was once again in the spotlight, this time due to his on-track skirmish with Nico Hulkenberg.

What happened at the Mexican GP?

During the midpoint of the Grand Prix, Hulkenberg, driving for Haas, held a strategic position ahead of the Alpine’s Ocon, who had impressively surged from a 15th-place start. Eager to advance, Ocon signaled his intent to overtake by humorously addressing Hulkenberg’s team over the radio, stating, “You can say to Haas that I’m gonna go for it. So they better be ready.”

Ultimately, persistence paid off for the Alpine star. Not only did Ocon snatch the crucial points position, but he also managed to conclude the race a significant 18 seconds ahead of Hulkenberg, landing in the 13th spot, right in front of teammate Pierre Gasly.

The race might have concluded, but the interaction between the two drivers was far from over. Hulkenberg, in a jesting mood, took to his Instagram story, quipping, “You must really like my rear end… What took u so long @estebanocon.” Not one to let that slide, Ocon fired back with, “You didn’t see mine for very long..” accompanied by a cheeky winking face emoji.

 

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Despite not being in the spotlight for the majority of the Mexican GP, this engaging duel between Hulkenberg and Ocon indeed provided ample entertainment, demonstrating that there’s drama and amusement to be found throughout the grid.

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Having said that, Haas’s challenging season took another turn after the Mexico City Grand Prix. Hulkenberg, one of the team’s drivers, expressed deep concerns over the squad’s direction, especially regarding their upgrade strategy. Currently, the team finds itself at the bottom of the Constructors’ Championship table with a mere 12 points.

Nico Hulkenberg voices concerns after the Mexican GP

Throughout the season, the VF-23 car, driven by Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen, has consistently suffered from high tire degradation. This challenge has restricted their chances of gathering significant points, evidenced by only one point-scoring finish since the Miami Grand Prix. However, Hulkenberg did manage to add to his tally during the Austria Sprint race.

Addressing the media, a visibly disappointed Hulkenberg stated, “It’s inevitable. We’re paying a price for not bringing upgrades, for not finding performance.” He further stressed the urgency for Haas to reflect upon its current path, asserting, “Hopefully it is a wake-up call to everybody in the factory because, at this rate, you just can’t compete in F1.”

Hulkenberg also pondered whether Haas’s older-spec car might have been more suitable for the Mexico Grand Prix, considering its predominance of low-speed corners. He observed that the older car model exhibited better performance in such conditions. However, he also noted the team’s commitment to its future path.

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In the midst of this turbulence, Haas will be hoping to reevaluate its strategy and find a way back to competitive form as the season progresses.