Bruno Famin, Group Principal: “We’re wanting ahead to the beginning of the Formulation 1 racing season in Bahrain this weekend. We had a productive three-day take a look at right here final week the place we proceed to study and progress the A524. We knew it was not going to be a simple begin to the season. Accepting these challenges is all a part of racing in Formulation 1 and it’s important that all of us push very onerous to develop the A524 within the coming weeks and months.
“The automobile has an excellent base, one we are able to and can develop throughout the season. I used to be more than happy to see the togetherness within the staff in latest weeks and months in reaching varied milestones, which culminated with having the automobile on monitor final week. And it’s that tough work that can proceed to ensure that us to maintain progressing.
“I do know that Esteban and Pierre are hungry and motivated to play their half on monitor and we sit up for relying on their professionalism and expertise. Lastly, this weekend additionally marks the return of FIA Formulation 2 and FIA Formulation 3 the place we are going to eagerly observe the outcomes of Victor and Kush in Formulation 2 in addition to Gabriele, Sophia and Nikola in Formulation 3.”
Esteban Ocon: “After three days of intensive pre-season testing and a protracted winter of coaching in readiness for the brand new season, I am wanting to get again behind the wheel and race in earnest at a Grand Prix weekend. Regardless that it was solely testing, I used to be concerned in some wheel-to-wheel motion throughout the finish of one of many take a look at classes, which noticed a number of automobiles in a drag race down into Flip 1. It was enjoyable and whet my urge for food for extra of the identical this weekend in Bahrain.Extracting the utmost
“The take a look at session in Bahrain was extraordinarily useful and we learnt lots in regards to the new automobile and its traits. The automobile improved from the primary to the final day in testing, so we’re hoping to see related enhancements over the course of the race weekend. We all know what we’re working with heading into the opening race of the season, and we should extract the utmost from our bundle to present us the absolute best likelihood of coming away with one thing from the weekend.
“It is troublesome to gauge the pecking order after such a brief testing schedule, with groups operating completely different programmes and gas hundreds. We simply centered on ourselves and gathered as a lot information as potential. The identical additionally applies for this weekend in Bahrain. We all know we’re coming into this season barely on the again foot with the brand new automobile idea and the staff is working extremely onerous to deliver extra efficiency to the automobile within the coming races.”
This weekend ought to see Esteban Ocon begin his 134th profession Grand Prix, which might tie him with compatriot Jean-Pierre Jarier (1971-83). Assuming he begins the 2 opening Grands Prix of the season, Esteban will transfer into the highest fifty most skilled drivers in F1 historical past.
Pierre Gasly: “It’s all the time a really distinctive feeling on the daybreak of a Formulation 1 season. I am all the time so excited for it because it’s when all of the speaking and anticipation stops and we simply get on monitor and go racing as soon as once more. I am in nice form each bodily and mentally. I had a implausible low season and I really feel prepared for the problem of the 24-race season in my second season with Alpine.
“We had a really busy three-day take a look at final week. We simply centered on ourselves, did our personal programme with out an excessive amount of stress and carried out so many checks as we study increasingly about our general automobile bundle. I count on it’s going to take a while for us to unlock the efficiency we would like from the automobile however that’s no shock given it is a new idea. I am remaining lifelike. I do know it won’t be a simple begin for us however what’s most essential is to maintain figuring out the important thing areas of labor and to study and progress.
“Bahrain is a good monitor for racing. I feel we even had a reminder of that within the take a look at final week! There are a number of locations for overtaking so it is normally an thrilling one for us drivers. Final 12 months, I scored factors after a really sturdy Sunday efficiency in my first race for Alpine. Clearly, that’s all the time the pure purpose and we are going to see how the race weekend unfolds this time spherical. I am definitely excited to be lining up on the grid as soon as once more and going for it at each alternative.!
Pierre Gasly’s cost from final to ninth throughout the 2023 Bahrain GP included the quickest 10-lap stint by any driver throughout the complete race, a run that was on common 0.424s per lap faster than race winner Max Verstappen.
