The French team’s decline in Formula 1’s pecking order during its transition to the new A524 chassis has been conspicuous. Struggling to regain its former competitive edge from the previous season, the team has grappled with a lack of raw speed in the early-spec car.
This decline has widened the performance gap between the top five elite teams and the trailing bottom five, effectively forcing drivers in the latter category to rely on retirements to secure points.
Following the Bahrain opener, where the top 10 positions were monopolized by Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and Aston Martin, Lance Stroll’s premature exit from the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix opened a window for a sixth team to break into point-scoring contention – a chance seized by Haas and Nico Hulkenberg in Jeddah.
Esteban Ocon has expressed frustration at the current state of affairs, emphasizing the minimal rewards for well-executed races.
He lamented the feeling of exerting maximum effort throughout a weekend only to miss out on points, acknowledging the mental strain it imposes. Nonetheless, Ocon remains resolute in his commitment to extracting the best possible performance from his circumstances.
Daniel Ricciardo adopts a more optimistic outlook, suggesting that the dynamics of any given circuit could potentially shake up the established pecking order.
He pointed to the Mexican Grand Prix of last year, where he secured a fourth-place grid position despite his team, then AlphaTauri, languishing at the bottom of the constructors’ standings. Ricciardo’s perspective underscores the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 and the hope it instills in drivers for favorable outcomes.
Valtteri Bottas of Sauber proposed the extension of points-paying positions beyond the top 10 to inject more competition into the lower half of the field, given the current performance differentials.
However, he acknowledged that the scenario might change with the introduction of new regulations in 2026, potentially rendering such adjustments unnecessary.
Bottas also highlighted the singular achievement of Hulkenberg, who managed to score a solitary point amidst the competitive fray. He emphasized the significance of maintaining competitiveness even in the mid-pack, suggesting a shift in mindset towards sustained efforts for point-scoring finishes, regardless of position.
