The post-season test in Abu Dhabi was the most interesting running that Esteban Ocon has ever done, the Frenchman says after topping the times.
Ocon was fastest and completed over 100 laps during Tuesday’s test, which allowed race drivers a chance to work with Pirelli’s tires ahead of 2024. Reserve driver Jack Doohan also drove for Alpine throughout the day, the pair completing nearly 220 laps between then, and Ocon said the day was of significant value.
“It was good, I think it was a very interesting day being able to test things that we were not able to test at the race and throughout the year,” Ocon said. “It’s been a very free test in a way, so that was very interesting – probably the most interesting test that I’ve ever done, and some good outcomes as well from it, so I think it’s going to be useful for next year’s car in general and I’m happy with the outcome.
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“Good to get the data over with Jack’s car as well, we could compare a lot of things. It was an interesting one so happy to wrap up the year like that.”
According to Ocon, Alpine was able to both learn from its 2023 season but also assess future directions throughout the running at Yas Marina Circuit.
“They both go together to be honest, because obviously it’s a continuity of the regulations, we’re trying to keep learning from this year and hopefully bring the good things into next year’s car,” he said. “That’s the aim, it’s going to be the aim over the winter as well on the simulator to be able to extract the maximum out of the data that we’ve just put in there.
“So a really good day, clean stuff happened out there and we can be proud of it from everyone because it’s been a long season. Everyone is tired at this point, but we had zero issues with both cars and everyone ran squeaky clean.”
With Alpine finishing the year a distant sixth in the constructors’ championship, Ocon – who finished 12th in the drivers’ standings after seven retirements – believes the team left a lot of points on the table this year.
“Not the happiest with the season, that’s clear,” he said. “We’ve been having some very good things over this year, we’ve secured some very strong results as a team – Monaco, Zandvoort, these places were quite strong for the team – but unfortunately not consistent enough and too many DNFs which has cost us a lot this season.
“We probably could have been in the top 10 in the drivers’ championship, closer as well to the other places in the constructors’, but that’s how it is. We keep on working and I’m pretty sure good things will come. I trust our team to do a good job over the winter, everyone is hungry for more and to keep improving. That’s what we are aiming for.”