Esteban Ocon finishes at the top of the standings again with a sixth place at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, a week after finishing seventh in Bahrain. The Norman had an eventful race with an intense duel against his teammate Fernando Alonso. But with a hint of luck (two retirements) and great pugnacity (in a McLaren), he took a good place of honour. Pierre Gasly had a more discreet but effective race with an eighth place final. Victory for Verstappen (Red Bull) after a grandiose battle against Leclerc (Ferrari).
Esteban Ocon in difficulty before a revival at the end
Context : Brilliantly qualified in fifth position, Esteban Ocon is ideally placed at the head of the chasing pack behind Red Bull and Ferrari, the two best teams at the start of the season. But the gaps were very small in qualifying and the Normand will have a very small margin on his pursuers.
Race: Esteban Ocon keeps his fifth place at the start but suddenly loses pace from the 4th lap. He is overtaken by Russell (Mercedes) then threatened by his teammate Alonso. The two Alpines are neck and neck with the Norman’s very muscular defenses.
The Spaniard ended up passing after two tense laps… then was attacked in turn by Esteban Ocon. Stressful period for the French team, especially since this fratricidal battle is delaying the Alpines, who were caught by Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and Magnussen (Haas).
By attacking his teammate, Esteban Ocon damaged his tires and he paid for it a few laps later by being overtaken by Bottas. The Norman has lost three places since the start and he is in eighth place after 15 rounds.
The change of tires did not allow the Norman to regain his qualifying rhythm and he lost ground on his teammate and Bottas. He now drives lonely with, at this time, few other prospects than eighth place. But he has a double stroke of luck on lap 37 with the retirements of Alonso and Bottason mechanical breakdowns.
Back in sixth position, Esteban Ocon must deal with the threatening presence of Norris (McLaren). The Briton will first pass the Frenchman before a replica of the Alpine in the final loop of the race. The Norman driver won sixth place at the cost of a fine final rush. He also occupies sixth place in the world championship and Alpine fourth in the constructors’ standings.
Reliability played in favor of Pierre Gasly
Context : In the fifth row, as during the Bahrain Grand Prix a week ago, Pierre Gasly will try to open his point counter in this 2022 championship. But will the AlphaTauri be reliable? Tsunoda, the Normand’s teammate, broke down during the grid lap!
Race: Good take off from Gasly who threatens Bottas (Alfa Romeo) before having to give in at the first corner. But the first round is very complicated for the Norman, doubled by Magnussen (Haas, though on hard rubber) then Norris (McLaren). Pierre Gasly passes the young Briton a few laps later and temporarily re-enters the top 10, before coming out a few laps later when he cannot contain the rise of Hamilton (Mercedes).
Pierre Gasly then had the misfortune to change his tires one lap before a race neutralization (Latiffi crash) and he lost two additional places to find himself behind the McLarens, far from the top 10. But the 37th lap offered a rare scene : three cars simultaneously broken down (Alonso, Bottas and Ricciardo). The Alpha Tauri found themselves eighth. A position she will keep until the finish linewhich allows the Norman to score his first four points in the world championship.
Verstappen at the finish ahead of Leclerc
Solid leader, the poleman Sergio Perez was the big loser of a race neutralization occurred one lap after his tire change. The Red Bull driver found himself fourth behind the Ferraris and his teammate Verstappen. The misfortune of the Mexican allowed Leclerc (Ferrari) to recover the lead of the race. First comfortably installed at the controls, the Monegasque mismanaged an end of VSC allowing Verstappen to come back in his wake. This resulted in a new battle on the track between the leaders of Red Bull and Ferrari. Leclerc had won the first round in Bahrain last Sunday, this time it’s Verstappen who imposes himself with a breath at the end of a new duel still virile but very correct, without dangerous maneuver.
The championship promises between the two strong men of this start to the season. Next meeting in two weeks at the Australian Grand Prix.