
via Getty
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 01: Race winner Esteban Ocon of France and Alpine F1 Team celebrates on the podium next to third placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 01, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Florion Goga – Pool/Getty Images)

via Getty
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – AUGUST 01: Race winner Esteban Ocon of France and Alpine F1 Team celebrates on the podium next to third placed Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP during the F1 Grand Prix of Hungary at Hungaroring on August 01, 2021 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Florion Goga – Pool/Getty Images)
In 2021 Hungarian GP, Esteban Ocon stood at a podium higher than that of Lewis Hamilton. While a massive credit for that went to Fernando Alonso, who defended against Lewis Hamilton for 10 laps, Ocon single-handedly pulled one up on the 7x champion and a few others during the Monaco Grand Prix. This has resulted in Enstone’s based team asserting dominance over their arch-rivals.
The Saturday qualifying around the Principality of Monaco was so electrifying that till the last moment, we didn’t know who the pole man will be. However, after 3 place grid penalty for Charles Leclerc, Esteban Ocon got promoted to the second row, marking his best-ever start but also a threat of defending from the greats like Lewis. But while the Frenchman did that successfully, he also registered a lead over McLaren.

via Getty
SUZUKA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 11: Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP and Esteban Ocon of France and Mercedes GP talk in the Paddock after practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka Circuit on October 11, 2019 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
The host of the Checkered Flag podcast said, “Defensive driver from Lap 1 to Lap 78. First of all, Sainz launching in some pretty feisty attack, then there was a threat of an over-cut with Sainz then Leclerc then Gasly which is why Gasly is a bit disappointed that he pitted. then Russell finally had a great chance, so he had to deal with all of that and finally, in the end, Hamilton had a go at him.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“Ocon was threatened by five drivers that finished behind him. All at different moments.—He delivered, probably his best-ever weekend in F1 for Alpine.—They now have more than double McLaren’s points.”
While Esteban Ocon pulled a historic feat for his team, what pushed him to do so? The Alpine CEO may look for credit for this one.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Esteban Ocon’s Monaco GP performance may have been a result of a reprimand from the CEO
Alpine CEO, Laurent Rossi, publicly slammed the team for not performing up to the mark. He pointed fingers at the TP Otmar Szafnauer and even the drivers for their follies. However, the first race after the reprimand saw Alpine put an end to the 2-year podium drought for the team. But does that mean Rossi’s comments had that effect?

via Imago
Image source: Imago
Very happy for the team, Rossi, when asked if his words in Miami catapulted this result, he said, “I would hope so. It’s a bit early to say that. But it certainly had one effect, which is to say we were not going to be satisfied with this, there’s a couple of things we need to improve.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Watch This Story: Maria Sharapova Strikes the Nostalgic Chord for Fans After her Monaco GP Sunday Experience
Do you think Alpine is now in the mix to fight for podiums?
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT