Ocon lifts the lid on internal issues at Alpine
Esteban Ocon has given an insight into the problems that have beset the Alpine team in recent times, as the squad goes through more upheaval with the exit of Bruno Famin, the arrival of Oliver Oakes and the return of Flavio Briatore.
A barran start to the season means that Alpine is currently down in eighth place in the constructors championship despite recent points finishes before the summer break.
One issue is that the Renault power unit is under performing, leading to plans by the French automative giant to end its involvement as a manufacturer and leave the Alpine team using Mercedes customer engines.
By the time that happens, Ocon will have left the team for a new spot at Haas beginning in 2025. He suggests that the problems with the team are much deeper than just an underperforming PU.
"There's a lot of things that were not evolved the way that it should've been," Ocon told media at the most recent Grand prix weekend before the summer shutdown, as reported by RacingNews365.
Ocon pointed the finger at the team not acting on feedback from the drivers - from Ocon, and from his team mates since 2020 which have included Daniel Ricciardo, Fernando Alonso, and currently Pierre Gasly.
"I think on my side - on Fernando's side, on Pierre's side, on Daniel's side - we said a lot of things on the car development, and unfortunately, at some stage, there's been a loop missing.
"We were giving the feedback, but didn't really have the feedback coming back to us and the confirmation," he explained. "Sometimes we haven't been listened to the way we should have been, I would say."
"We are carrying some issues that we still had a couple of years ago," he continued. "We've improved a lot of other things, but you can't be waiting years and years to be able to fix some problems and that's what has happened.
"The circle didn't come back. The issues haven't been fixed the way they should have been, which is frustrating.for everyone," he added. "Obviously we don't have a car that performs the way we're supposed to perform.
"That's what we have to live with," he concluded, hoping that the latest round of changes to the set-up at Enstone will bode well for the team's future.
Former Renault boss Flavio Briatore has returned as an advisor, with team principal Bruno Famin reassigned within the Renault group to other duties and Hitech Racing boss Oliver Oakes taking the helm.
It's not yet been announced who will be joining Gasly in the driver line-up next season once Ocon departs, but junior Jack Doohan is reportedly favourite to make the leap from to a full-time race seat.
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