There was a time when it looked like Esteban Ocon was almost a shoe in for a seat at the Mercedes F1 team, after he impressed many at Force India in 2017 and 2018. A year on the sidelines in 2019 meant he had to be patient, but he got his F1 return in 2020, although it was with Renault and not Mercedes. But Ocon was back on the grid, and paired with Daniel Ricciardo, it looked like Renault had a fearsome lineup.
But Ocon had a tough 2020 season, with Ricciardo out qualifying him 15-2 in the 17 round season, and finishing with 117 points vs the 62 of Ocon. But, towards the end of the year, Ocon was back on the pace and took a fine second place at the Sakhir Grand Prix. In 2021, things got even better for the popular Frenchman, as he won the Hungarian Grand Prix and proved himself up against the often immovable object that is Fernando Alonso. Ocon firmly re-established himself in 2021 and was rewarded with a contract until the end of 2024 with Alpine.
A Strong End To 2020
The strong 2021 was set up thanks to a solid end to the year in 2020. Whilst Ricciardo clearly had the edge in 2020, Ocon slowly worked on improving himself, so he was much closer to his teammate at the end of the year. His one lap pace got better and better, and whilst Ricciardo won the qualifying battle easily, Ocon was much, much closer to Ricciardo as the season went on. Technical issues also blighted Ocon’s 2020, as did a punt from his teammate at the start of the Turkish Grand Prix.
The 2021 season was almost a complete reversal for the Frenchman. He started the year with four consecutive points finishes from Imola onwards, with Alpine battling Aston Martin and Alpha Tauri in the midfield. New teammate Fernando Alonso though was soon back up to speed, as he out-qualified Ocon from Baku to Silverstone, and finished ahead of Ocon in every race the pair were classified. But it was the Hungarian Grand Prix where things turned around again, and perhaps also where Ocon was able to elevate himself to another level.
A Phenomenal Debut Victory For Ocon
A smash at the start involving Valtteri Bottas, both Red Bulls, Lando Norris, and a couple of others meant Ocon vaulted up the order to second place behind Lewis Hamilton. A botched strategy from Mercedes then saw Ocon inherit the lead straight after the race's red flag period ended, and he then went chasing after his first-ever F1 victory, hounded by the Aston Martin of a certain Sebastian Vettel. The man who has won four world titles, and who had driven to a fine second place at Baku just a few races prior. Despite the misgivings some might have had about him, Ocon put in an absolute masterclass.
He never bottled under the pressure of Vettel, and his in-lap to counter the Aston Martin undercut at their pit-stops was perhaps crucial to Ocon’s race. What also helped was the epic defending Fernando Alonso put in against a recovering Hamilton, defending that, even if it had just been for one lap less, might have not seen Ocon win the race. But he did win the race after a fabulous drive, to take his first win, the first-ever F1 win for Alpine, and the first win for that particular team since Australia 2013. Plus, it was the first Renault-powered win since Mexico 2018.
Building Upon The Hungarian Win
Ocon was able to use that win as a platform for more great results. The Alpine was no match for the likes of the McLarens and Ferraris, but Ocon scored eight points finishes in the last 11 rounds of the year, even if Alonso was able to put in some bigger results at times, such as in Zandvoort with 6th place. But Ocon took a fine fifth in Qatar as Alonso finished third, and was super unlucky to lose third place in Saudi Arabia just meters from the line, thanks to Bottas. All of this helped Alpine finish in fifth place, maintaining their result from 2020 in a much more competitive field.
What Next For Ocon At Alpine?
What happens next for Ocon is difficult to really work out. The 2022 rules-rewrite is the biggest in some 40 years for F1, and it’s a lottery whether Mercedes stay at the top, or if a team like Alpine suddenly has the best car. And Ocon of course has a fierce opponent in Alonso in the other car, so he will have his work cut out for him if the car can win races. But 2021 showed us the talent is very much there with the Frenchman, after his tough 2020, and an 11-11 qualifying head-to-head and a 9-9 race finish record is something Ocon can be very proud of against a driver as great as Alonso. Hopefully, the Ocon success story will continue into 2022.
Sources: Autoweek, Reddit, XPB Images, Autosport, Motorsport Magazine, Planet F1