With just a couple minutes left to Q3, Esteban Ocon was sitting on the provisional pole after setting a 1m11.553s. This was great news for Alpine, the team that had the most trouble throughout the season so far.
Explaining the decision to set a time earlier than the rest in the final stage of qualifying, Ocon said: “We got done exactly in Miami for that. We left it late, we got done with the red flag for Charles [Leclerc] at the end and we wanted to avoid that. We wanted to go earlier with the two sets [of tyres] and that’s what we did.
“Unfortunately, there was no red flag for us but it could well have paid off. It is something we will keep in mind.”
Following the final runs, Ocon slipped to fourth as Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, and Charles Leclerc all turned in quicker times, and, with no red flags or safety cars he settled for fourth.
When asked about whether he is frustrated about it, he said:“There is a tiny bit of frustration that we are only 188 milliseconds from pole and what could have been. If I had got a better exit there, I get a little bit cooler temperatures from the front tyres in the last couple of corners, you never know. But I think it was pretty well maximised. They told me every single time [someone crossed the line].
“I was still on pole when I came in and then I saw the fall of hell, which doesn’t feel great. We can be pleased with only being two-tenths off the Red Bull.”
Following the three-place grid penalty that was handed to Charles Leclerc after impeding Lando Norris, Ocon will be starting in third position. His old teammate, Fernando Alonso is in second position. He played an important role during the Frenchman’s first Formula 1 win back in Hungary in 2021.
Ocon hopes for a big send from Alonso at the start to open the door for him tomorrow afternoon to take a second career win.
“Fernando is starting second and I’m pretty sure he is going to take all of the risks to be in the lead after Turn 1. Hopefully, he creates a mess and that opens the way for us.”
Photo credit: Alpine F1 Team
