The group begins the second a part of the 2022 FIA Method 1 World Championship season sitting in fourth place within the Constructors’ Championship. The season heads to Spa-Francorchamps for the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend, the primary of three European races in as many weeks. Staff Principal Otmar Szafnauer outlines the group’s mindset heading into the triple header.
How prepared is the group to tackle the second a part of the season?
Otmar Szafnauer: We’re all feeling re-energised after the enforced Method 1 summer time shutdown. It is all the time a superb time to take inventory on the season thus far, replicate on the positives and assess a few of the areas for enchancment. Now, we’re all feeling prepared and motivated for the second a part of the season the place there’s a lot to play for when it comes to the championship. We left Budapest on the finish of July in fourth place within the Constructors’ Championship and our purpose is easy: we need to be in the identical place on the finish of the season finale in Abu Dhabi.
What’s the newest throughout the group?
OS: Clearly the group has been fairly outstanding on the planet media within the days after Hungary and simply earlier than the summer time break, nevertheless, it’s completely no distraction for us as soon as we hit the race monitor once more. Whereas we’re shedding a incredible asset in Fernando for subsequent yr, his resolution has zero bearing on what we need to obtain collectively in 2022. We’ll be pushing onerous as a group – with each Fernando and Esteban within the automobile for the rest of the yr – with a purpose to put ourselves in the absolute best place to satisfy the aforementioned targets for this championship season. I do know each drivers are extremely motivated so we’re all wanting ahead to channeling that vitality on monitor.
Are you wanting ahead to racing on the legendary Spa-Francorchamps?
OS: This phase of the calendar might be the hardest and most enduring a part of the season as we spherical off racing in Europe with a busy triple header. That stated, we race on three iconic and legendary race circuits, which positively have their place in Method 1. Spa-Francorchamps is a incredible venue with groups and drivers alike all the time wanting ahead to race there. There are some small on-track modifications for security at Spa this yr, which might be fascinating to evaluate. It is usually a spot the place we see some variations within the climate, so we’ll must be alert to all circumstances. No matter occurs, rain or shine, as a group our mindset is evident: we’ll work onerous collectively to attain the absolute best outcomes.
Esteban Ocon returns to Spa-Francorchamps, a circuit the place he made his Method 1 debut six years in the past. Already up on his season tally from this time final yr, Esteban might be seeking to carry his present type into the remaining 9 rounds of the Championship.
How was your summer time break Esteban?
Esteban Ocon: “It was good, I spent a while in Sardinia, enjoyable and recharging after what was an intense first a part of the season. It was a much-needed break for everybody however I do know we’re all excited to be racing once more. I got here again dwelling with loads of time and began preparations for Spa early to be prepared for the weekend and the remainder of the upcoming triple-header. We have additionally been within the simulator this week present process the same old preparations and I do know the group are raring to go.”
Belgium up first. What are your ideas on this iconic monitor?
EO: “Spa is a spot that I do know most drivers actually get pleasure from driving at, together with myself. It is much more particular for me as it’s the place I made my Method 1 debut in 2016. It was a second I will always remember, a second the place a dream got here true. When it comes to efficiency, there’s been some good outcomes up to now like once I certified third in 2018 and once we completed fourth and fifth within the race in 2020. It is also the monitor the place we additionally misplaced Anthoine just a few years again. We’re all the time racing with him in our ideas and I nonetheless personally take into consideration him every single day.”
How do you method driving round Spa-Francorchamps?
EO: “This circuit is unquestionably a part of a type of legendary motorsport tracks. It is a terrific place the place you’ll be able to simply really feel the historical past round you all the time. There are after all some wonderful corners that are all the time a pleasure to drive on particularly in a contemporary Method 1 automobile. These embrace the likes of Raidillon, Pouhon and Blanchimont, and it’ll additionally very cool to take Eau Rouge flat in these fashionable F1 automobiles. We additionally discover some lengthy straights and loads of elevation change on this monitor which makes for an pleasing lap the place you’ll find a little bit of every little thing. Overtaking is frequent in Spa and we all know the climate is usually combined, normally leading to an thrilling race. However let’s perhaps hope for a bit much less rain than final yr this time!”
Contemporary from his summer time break, Fernando Alonso heads to Belgium for what might be his seventeenth Method 1 Grand Prix on the well-known racing venue at Spa-Francorchamps. The Spaniard will look to pick-up the place he left off in July and depart Belgium with a ninth points-finish in a row.
In such a busy calendar yr of racing, what do you do throughout a summer time shutdown?
Fernando Alonso: “All of us miss racing in August however the time without work to recharge the batteries is required. After 20 years of racing on the pinnacle of motorsports, I’ve learnt that taking a while to get well is essential, particularly throughout such a busy yr. Now that we now have greater than 20 races in a season, it is much more necessary to ensure you maximise your restoration time. However it’s necessary to maintain some train routine, as as soon as we get again to racing it is relentless till December.”
Do you get pleasure from racing at Spa-Francorchamps?
FA: “I do get pleasure from racing at Spa. It is one of the historic races on the calendar. We normally have fascinating races there because the circuit lends itself to plenty of overtaking alternatives. The climate is all the time combined there too, so there generally is a few surprises. We would not thoughts some rain this weekend because the automobile performs fairly nicely in these circumstances. We need to placed on a present for the followers particularly after final yr!”
What are your targets for the remainder of the season?
FA: “I need to get pleasure from the remainder of this season with Alpine after a robust first half of the yr. There’s nonetheless a lot we will obtain collectively, and I will be pushing onerous till the final race in Abu Dhabi. Our purpose is to complete fourth within the Constructors, and I feel we’ll be in for a good battle with McLaren for the rest of the season. We confirmed sturdy growth within the first half of the yr and persistently outscored our nearest on-track rivals in the previous few races. We’ve to maintain up this sturdy growth charge from each factories if we’re to take care of our place.”