Alpine driver Esteban Ocon will start the Mexico Grand Prix from the pit lane instead of his originally qualified 19th position. This decision was made after Ocon opted to change several power unit components in his A524 car. Under the sporting regulations, specifically Article 40.9, any driver who changes components for the third time must start the race from the pits rather than the grid, which is the case for Ocon after replacing his control electronics and energy store units.
Ocon faced significant challenges during the qualifying session, where he struggled to find the pace and ended up in 19th place among a 20-car field. He expressed his frustration with the performance of the car, indicating that despite minor setup adjustments, the vehicle did not behave as expected. Ocon remarked, “The car drove exactly the same,” suggesting that the changes made did not result in the improvements the team had hoped for, leaving him clearly slower than his competitors.
The contrast in performance between Ocon and his teammate Pierre Gasly was notable, as Gasly advanced to Q3 and secured an impressive eighth-place starting position. Ocon acknowledged the discrepancies between their performances, which further highlighted his difficulties throughout the qualifying session. He noted that it was essential for the team to address these issues, as the variance in speed between the two drivers was concerning.
Reflecting on the practice sessions leading up to qualifying, Ocon had already indicated struggles during FP3, where he experienced similar challenges. Despite these difficulties, there had been some optimism within the team regarding their potential to improve during qualifying. However, Ocon’s expectations did not materialize, leading to disappointment as they failed to capitalize on the anticipated advancements.
Esteban Ocon’s decision to start from the pit lane due to power unit changes and his underwhelming qualifying performance underscores the challenges he and Alpine face this weekend in Mexico City. The team will need to regroup and analyze the issues affecting Ocon’s car as they strive for better performance in the upcoming race.