Esteban Ocon: It was good to have a couple of weeks off for the summer season break to unwind and chill out. I used to be in a position to spend some high quality time with family and friends, and recentre myself earlier than we head into the second a part of the season. We ended on a optimistic in Spa earlier than everybody headed dwelling for the break, securing one other level scoring end and my better of the season up to now. It actually exhibits the arduous work the staff has been placing in each trackside and on the factories to progress so far after a difficult begin to the season. Now the break is over, and we’re all able to get again racing!
The primary race again after a break all the time gives a very good feeling and the environment in Zandvoort is especially unimaginable. The dedication and vitality the Dutch followers convey to the weekend can actually inspire you as a driver. The circuit itself is a difficult one with its tight corners and excessive velocity however I like racing round it. There may be little room for error so it’s important to be laser centered always and the alternatives for overtaking are restricted which signifies that qualifying will beimportant for us to take advantage of out of the weekend.
Pierre Gasly: It has been very nice to spend the final couple of weeks after Spa chilling out and enjoyable with my household and associates… and Canine! After a difficult first a part of the 12 months, the entire staff deserved time to change off and reset and time within the solar has positively helped. It was continuous from Bahrain to Belgium and through that point we progressed nicely. Contemplating we had been on the again row on the first race, to indicate the tempo we did in a few of the latest races is basically promising for the remainder of the season. It might have been good to have each automobiles within the high ten earlier than the break however our goal stays to repeatedly add efficiency to the automobile and hopefully get ourselves into Q3 and into the factors at as many races as we are able to.
It is sensible to be heading again to Zandvoort for the following parr of the season. Final 12 months was clearly an ideal weekend with a podium end and a busy race in combined situations. It is one thing I’ll look again on with nice recollections because it was my first Grand Prix podium with Alpine. We needed to work arduous for it, we made some daring and decisive calls that went our manner, and, I need to say, we deserved it. I am a giant fan of the old fashioned, tight and twisty tracks and this one is relentless. There is no room for error which makes each lap thrilling for the drivers in addition to the wild Dutch followers. You possibly can overtake at this observe, however it is extremely arduous so qualifying and technique are going to be essential. I am actually trying ahead to getting again behind the wheel this weekend and going racing once more.
