After wall skimming and rain confusion, three drivers emerged victorious on the podium after an incredibly challenging Monaco Grand Prix. However, this time, an unfamiliar face stood on the podium, beaming with joy. It was Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in P3! The Frenchman was ‘on a cloud’ after giving Alpine their first rostrum appearance since 2021, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. After a tough start to 2023, with CEO Laurent Rossi openly criticizing the team’s performances, the Monaco results are what they ‘desperately needed’. However, the other Alpine driver, Pierre Gasly was left with mixed emotions from the Monaco Grand Prix.

Having started the race in P7, Gasly spent the early part of the Monaco race holding onto it. But with Ocon, Lewis Hamilton, Carlos Sainz, and Charles Leclerc pitting ahead of him for fresh slick tires, Gasly claimed P3. However, when the threat of rain loomed over Principality, Alpine made a strategy error, costing Gasly hugely. Instead of holding out for the rain to fall, the team called Gasly in for fresh dry tires on Lap 47 – only to be forced to call him back when the rain arrived. As a result, the 27-year-old driver finished where he’d started in seventh. This left Gasly disappointed, feeling that it could have been him, rather than his compatriot teammate Ocon, on the podium. But that didn’t stop him from sending a heartfelt message to the team.  

Speaking about the Alpine outfit’s big strides in the 2023 Formula 1 season, Gasly said, “Monaco was definitely a clear, big step forward, and that’s the sort of performance I want to see from the team. It was very well-deserved for all the guys to get that podium at this point in the season. I’ll say I see more smiles. Usually, from past experience. The more people smile, the more efficient they are.”

As to how the atmosphere has changed after the win, the Alpine driver said, “The motivation, the mindset are also different. There’s more confidence, so I must say, I’m pleased for the entire team we managed to get that result to get some weight off their shoulders.”

Read More: Despite Delivering Fitting Reply to Alpine CEO’s Damning Rant, Esteban Ocon Issues Brutal Reality Check Amid Mega Celebrations

However, as Ocon said, Alpine will ‘keep its feet on the ground’ and continue to work to fulfill its big ambitions.  

Alpine to looking to build on Monaco’s performance in Barcelona

Esteban Ocon’s third-place finish in the Principality’s streets marked the team’s first podium in 30 races, and his first since his shock victory in the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. Therefore, Alpine’s performance at the Monaco Grand Prix has improved morale and changed the way the F1 crew thinks. But now is the moment for the Enstone-based company to demonstrate that Monaco was not an anomaly. Because the truth is, Alpine’s improvement has stemmed from the fact it brought a major new upgrade to its A523s for Monaco. 

So, speaking ahead of Spanish Grand Prix, Gasly said, “I can see all the effort, all the hard work that has gone into this new package, and I really hope we are able to produce a similar performance in the coming races. It’s super important to confirm last weekend. The performance was extremely good in Monaco.”

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“We were able to fight the Mercedes, the Ferrari, even outperform them. It will be important to confirm this performance on a more traditional circuit like Barcelona because we’re clearly going after Mercedes and Ferrari, so I hope we can repeat these strong performances on a more consistent basis from now on.”

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Can Alpine get ahead of Mercedes and Ferrari in the Spanish Grand Prix?