Ocon finished the 2022 season eighth in the drivers’ standings, 11 points clear of team-mate Fernando Alonso, with the Spaniard instead bearing the brunt of Alpine’s reliability issues.
But while an absolute highlight, like his shock win at the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, was missing from Ocon’s year, the Frenchman says 2022 has been his most complete season yet as an all-around driver.
“I think so. The only thing I’ve been missing this year was finally a podium,” noted Ocon on his fifth full-time season in F1. “But for different circumstances we haven’t had any, but hopefully we can get some of it next year.
“All the goals we set for ourselves have been achieved. We finished fourth in the constructors’ championship. It’s also my best season in Formula 1 in terms of points.
“I’m very happy with that, good job from the whole team to have developed the car so much, and over the year. Hopefully we can close the gap even more for next year.”
Esteban Ocon, Alpine F1 Team at a press conference
Picture by: Motorsport Images
Asked by Autosport what a feather in his cap it was to beat Alonso to eighth in the championship, Ocon replied: “I’ve had my problems too. It feels good, it feels good I would say. is a very, very fast.” driver.
“I had to improve my game as much as possible. To finish ahead of him is a good satisfaction this year.”
Alpine’s reliability issues also opened the door for McLaren in the battle for fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, but despite being edged out by faster McLarens in Abu Dhabi, the Enstone team managed to secure the position, a fight that wasn’t as straightforward as it perhaps should be. have been.
“We were the fourth best team, yes, but McLaren were very quick at times, and they overtook us at the start of the season. So it wasn’t so easy in the first part of the year,” admitted Ocon.
In 2023, Ocon will be linked with Alpine through compatriot Pierre Gasly, who has severed ties with Red Bull and AlphaTauri, while double world champion Alonso moves to Aston Martin.
