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Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer praised Esteban Ocon’s progress throughout the season, but stressed that Sergio Perez’s “Minister of Defense” title should perhaps be transferred to his driver.
Ocon proved a difficult driver to overtake in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, with Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel stuck behind the Alpine driver throughout the opening stages, unable to overtake despite DRS The advantage helped him win on the straights.
Ocon finished seventh behind Lando Norris in Sunday’s season finale and beat teammate Fernando Alonso for the year — Although the two-time world champion is concerned about multiple reliability issues hampering his points total.
Asked how his drivers could improve during 2022, the Alpine team principal was quick to highlight one race that stood out from the rest.
Speaking to media outlets including PlanetF1 about Ocon’s season, Szafnauer enthuses: “He’s had some good races, and there have been others where we’ve known, we thought, ‘oh no, underperformed’, Then he pulled it out.
“It was really, really good for him. But, yeah, Suzuka stood out for me. That was brilliant.
“Lewis, in a Mercedes, very good in wet, variable conditions, dry, driving in your mirror all the time.
“Lewis drove the faster car and looked where they finished the championship – he held him back. Outstanding.”
Considering how Ocon was able to get behind a frustrated Vettel early on, who appeared to be faster than him at that point in the race, Safnor said he had no doubts about Ocon’s ability to stop the retiring four-time world champion.
“Even today, he did a good job — today I felt comfortable with him being able to defend, and he did,” the team chief said.
“I mean, I know Checo’s nickname is ‘Secretary of Defense,’ but maybe we should change that.”
Looking around at the reporters, Safnoll joked: “What is France’s defense minister? Anyone?” When there was no answer, he added: “Let’s figure out what that is and give him that nickname!” “
Ocon and Alpine in fourth place constructors championship Victory over McLaren culminated in a season-long battle for the midfield title on Sunday.
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
READ MORE: Sebastian Vettel ends his career with Driver of the Day award and Abu Dhabi regret
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