Esteban Ocon: “It’s fair to say that it was a tricky Friday for everyone today”

Esteban Ocon insists it was a tough Friday for everybody at Albert Park after a number of interruptions and disruptions throughout each free apply periods.

The BWT Alpine F1 Workforce driver was solely sixteenth quickest within the opening hour of apply, however time was misplaced because of purple flags for GPS system points and Logan Sargeant stopping on monitor.  Nevertheless, he positioned an encouraging sixth within the second session, though there was solely round fifteen minutes of significant working earlier than rain hit the monitor.

Ocon says it will likely be vital to make use of what they discovered throughout their time on monitor on Friday and construct on it throughout Saturday’s remaining hour of working to be able to be in a very good place going into Sunday’s Australian Grand Prix.

“It’s all the time good to be again driving in Melbourne though it’s honest to say that it was a tough Friday for everybody immediately,” mentioned Ocon.  “After some respectable laps on Hards, Free Follow 1 was interrupted by a GPS concern, which impacted the entire grid and made working on the Smooth compound very tough.

“We noticed heavy site visitors and the session was purple flagged in a short time. Thereafter, the afternoon session noticed us finishing one good run earlier than rain hit the monitor, making it unattainable to run dry tyres forward of what seems to be a dry Qualifying and Race.

“It will likely be as much as us to make use of the restricted studying from immediately and maximise it forward of tomorrow and Sunday’s Grand Prix.”

“It’s been an inexpensive Friday for us” – Pierre Gasly

Workforce-mate Pierre Gasly believes Alpine are in a ‘respectable place’ after Friday regardless of the restricted working, however he is aware of how vital it will likely be to get important monitor time throughout Saturday’s remaining hour of apply.

The Frenchman was eighth quickest within the first session on Friday and tenth within the second however is aware of they must be ‘decisive’ about which option to set-up the automotive for the remainder of the weekend, and he hopes they go in the proper route with it.

“It’s been an inexpensive Friday for us immediately and I’ve been happy with the working we managed to finish,” Gasly mentioned.  “It was not a easy day by way of being on-track because of the purple flag within the first session after which the rain within the second session, so we positively have a variety of work to do forward of tomorrow and we’ll have to be decisive within the automotive set-up.

“I felt good within the automotive, and I feel we’re in an honest place forward of the remainder of the weekend. It seems like it will likely be dry tomorrow and Sunday, so we’ll have to maximise tomorrow’s Free Follow 3 to be in fine condition for Qualifying within the afternoon.”