Earlier this year, Alpine made a request to the FIA for dispensation to address what they perceived as a performance gap between their Renault power unit and the power units of their rivals, Mercedes, Ferrari, and Honda RBPT.
However, their request was denied by the governing body.
When asked if Alpine’s lacklustre performance at the Monza circuit, known for its emphasis on engine performance, was primarily due to their power unit, Esteban Ocon provided insight into the complexities of Formula 1 performance.
He stated, “No, it’s not as simple as that.”
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Ocon elaborated, emphasising that Formula 1 performance is influenced by numerous factors.
He explained, “It’s never one thing in Formula 1. It’s obviously not our strongest area either.
“But we were struggling quite a lot in corners as well, not being happy with either the balance of the car or how it felt.”
Despite the challenges faced at Monza, Ocon highlighted the positive aspects of the experience.
He noted that the weekend provided valuable learning opportunities for the team. Additionally, he acknowledged the team’s dedication to maximising their performance, particularly during qualifying.
“The good thing, in a way, from that weekend, is how much we’ve learned,” Ocon said.
“And the other good thing is how we got the maximum out of the car in qualifying.
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“[Unfortunately] we were not quick enough, but both cars were within three-thousandths, which really shows how much we are pushing with the set-up, the directions, and how close we were for both cars.”
Alpine is currently in P6 of the Constructors’ Standings, behind its rival McLaren and clear of Williams, which has enjoyed a revival this season.
The team’s drivers are split by just one point in the Drivers’ Standings, with Pierre Gasly in P10 on 37 points, while Ocon is in P11 with 36.