Esteban Ocon: I felt sick in the car

In Qatar, Alpine achieved six points thanks to Esteban Ocon’s seventh place. After the finish, the French driver explained in detail how bad he felt behind the wheel due to the extreme heat.

His teammate Pierre Gasly received three five-second penalties for infringement and finished the race in twelfth place.

Esteban Ocon (7th): “Physically speaking, a very difficult race. It’s great that we finished seventh and got six points. I had a good start and climbed to fifth place. Thanks to the team for a competent strategy and well-executed pit stops.

The conditions in the car were extreme. I felt nauseous during the fifteenth and sixteenth rounds and thought, ‘ambush. There is still a long way to go.” But I gathered my thoughts and tried to focus on the work.

I’ve never experienced anything like this in the past. I have always been able to complete two race distances because I train hard for it. But today it was not only very hot outside, but also in the car because of the engine. We did not provide sufficient thermal insulation of the cockpit – the temperature in the car reached 80 degrees. I am happy that next year the race will be held in Qatar in December.”

Pierre Gasly (12th): “There was potential to earn points, so I’m disappointed with how the race went. Not the best day – I paid a lot for inch rides off the track. The result is disappointing because the speed allowed the team to earn a lot of points.

As the race progressed, minor fuel consumption issues arose, which also led to time losses. In an attempt to compensate for this, I took unnecessary risks and crossed the line of what was acceptable. I draw conclusions and move on.

The team has had a pretty positive weekend, but we still have a lot to learn. Now we wait for a structured stage series, starting in Austin.”