Esteban Ocon's "fantastic" maiden win puts Alpine "back where we belong"

Ocon, Alpine, Hungary — Photo: © LAT Images

Hungarian Grand Prix

Ocon's "fantastic" maiden win puts Alpine "back where we belong"

Ocon's shock win was his first in any category since 2015

Sam Hall

Sunday 1 August 2021 18:05

Estaban Ocon survived the lap one chaos in Hungary to score a stunning maiden F1 victory and put Alpine "back where we belong".

Ocon navigated the turn one carnage to climb from eighth to second and assumed the lead when Lewis Hamilton stopped a lap after the restart following a red flag stoppage.

The victory completes a remarkable comeback in the sport for Ocon, who missed a season when being dropped by what was then Racing Point at the end of 2018 before being handed a second chance by Renault, now Alpine.

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"What a moment," hailed Ocon. "It feels so good. It's the first victory since the Renault Groupe came back into F1.

"We had some difficult moments this season that we overcame together with the team.

"We came back to a fantastic place in Silverstone and what can I say? It's fantastic."

Ocon has endured some difficult moments this year with three Q1 exits.

"Just a big thank you for the trust that everyone is putting into me," he added.

"In difficult moments when you are out of Q1 in P17, you don't know where you are exactly and the team kept big trust in me and we are back where we belong.

"Sebastian [Vettel] was mega-quick the whole race. He put me under big pressure but we managed to hold him off so that was a great effort."

Alonso crucial to victory

After Hamilton pitted on lap 48, Alonso was forced to defend aggressively against the seven-time champion in order to protect Ocon's lead.

Of the teamwork vital to the victory, Ocon said: "Congrats to Fernando as well because I think the win is also thanks to him with the fight that he did.

"It has been awesome to work with Fernando. Since the beginning of the year, we are forming a real shock duo I would say.

"We are working together, we are pushing the team to try and improve and move closer to the pack in front.

"Everyone told me a lot of things about Fernando before I came but everything is wrong. I can tell you he is a fantastic guy inside working and I am enjoying the collaboration we have together."