After a strong result in Shanghai two weeks ago, Haas driver Esteban Ocon had a sluggish F1 Japanese GP weekend. Despite a floor upgrade, the Frenchman was stuck in Q1, starting in 18th, and made up no ground by the end of the race to finish in 18th as well.
Ocon starting on hard tyres at Suzuka
Ocon was one of a few to start on hard tyres, hoping to stay out in the event of a chaotic Suzuka start. While Gabriel Bortoleto did slide to the back at the start, there were no Safety Cars to break this race up. Nevertheless, Ocon tried to make the long first stint work. Indeed, as the rest of the field’s pit stops progressed he had moved up to 11th by lap 25 simply by staying out.
The other cars’ fresher tires began to take hold though, and after being passed by Alex Albon on lap 29 and being caught by teammate Oliver Bearman, he pitted on lap 33 and returned in 18th, where he finished.
Ocon: ”That strategy… was not the optimal one” in F1 Japanese GP
“We were waiting for a safety car to come out. That was the whole plan behind that strategy. Obviously, as the safety car didn’t come, it was not the optimal one. But yeah, there was nothing really that we could have gained otherwise, so we tried it.”
The Japanese Grand Prix result was especially disappointing for Ocon given the result from teammate Bearman, who gave Haas their first back to back point finishes of the season in 10th. Ocon’s assessment is that despite the upgrade, “we’re still lacking four to five tenths, I think.”
Haas unable to duplicate their improvement… yet
“I think it’s good overall that the team’s managed to bring this update this quickly and react this quickly. It worked on one car, which is very good. We need to pick that up, understand the data from all its sides. And it’s good that it managed to pick up a point. We are very happy on that side now. It’s just a matter of turning it into our car as well. No doubt that this will come too.”
