Once the 2022 season is over, in Alpine they do not stop praising Esteban Ocon. The Frenchman finished eighth in the Drivers’ Championship and ahead of Fernando Alonsothanks to six DNFs and other issues of the Asturian throughout the year. This has made the head of the French team, otmar szafnauerDon’t stop throwing flowers at Or with.
“He’s had some fabulous races and there were other moments where we said ‘oh no, the race isn’t there’ but he was snatching a result.”It’s very, very good“, assures szafanuer on ‘Motorsport.com’.
“suzuki stands out for me: It was amazing! had to Lewis in their mirrors all the time, with a Mercedeswhich is very good in the rain, in changeable and dry conditions. Lewis he had a faster car, look where the championship ended. And she resisted him. Extraordinary,” he stresses.
In Abu DhabYo, Or with was also protected from Sebastian Vettel. “This Sunday I was very sure that he was going to know how to defend himself. And he did. I know Checo’s nickname is ‘Minister of Defense’, but maybe we should call him…How to say ‘Minister of Defence’ in French? Someone knows? We have to give him that nickname!” he says. szafnauer.
The French driver was also happy about his defense: “Very good battle with Seb, yes, a bit stressful.I didn’t want to be the one to touch him in his last race! In short, it was a good fight, fair game, as always with Seb. I had a good time!”.
Ocon’s most important defense was to help Alonso
However, the biggest defense of his career came in 2021 at Qatar. Fernando Alonso said an iconic phrase on the radio when Sergio Perez could snatch the podium from the Asturian: “Tell Esteban to defend like a lion)”.
The Frenchman wasted time perez and finally Alonso managed to get on the podium after many years without doing it.
Ocon’s only victory was thanks to a defense by Alonso
Esteban Ocon will never forget his first victory in the Formula 1. It was in 2021 in Hungary and thanks to one masterful defense of Fernando Alonsowhich stopped lewis hamilton for more than 10 laps.
When the British finally did happen to him, it was already late and Or with crossed the checkered flag first, with Hamilton third and Sebastian Vettel second.