Ocon scored a surprise win for Alpine in a chaotic Hungarian Grand Prix, benefitting from the first-lap chaos earlier than pitting for slicks as an alternative of taking the standing begin.
It meant he moved into the lead of the race when Lewis Hamilton pitted one lap later to make the swap, earlier than holding his nerve to maintain Sebastian Vettel at bay by the rest of the race.
Ocon took victory by 1.8 seconds, aided by team-mate Alonso, whose efforts to maintain the recovering Hamilton again for 10 laps stalled the Mercedes driver’s cost after he was operating three seconds per lap quicker than the leaders at factors.
Hamilton ultimately cleared Alonso for fourth place earlier than passing Carlos Sainz Jr two laps later, however couldn’t make up any extra locations, ultimately crossing the road 2.7 seconds down on Ocon in third.
It marked the primary victory for the Enstone-based crew since Alonso received the Japanese Grand Prix at Fuji in 2008, and the primary for a Renault-powered automotive since 2018.
Talking after the race, Ocon paid tribute to the crew and made observe of Alonso’s help in serving to him win the race as he soaked up a standing ovation from the grandstands.
“What a second, what a second!” Ocon stated.
“It feels so good. It’s the primary victory clearly for the reason that Renault group got here again into Components 1. We had some troublesome moments this season that we overcame along with the crew. We’ve come again to a implausible place in Silverstone.
Fernando Alonso, Alpine A521, George Russell, Williams FW43B
Picture by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“And at the moment, what can I say? it’s implausible. Congrats to Fernando as properly, as a result of I feel the win can also be because of him with the fights that he did. It’s teamwork, all that. I feel it’s been a implausible day.”
Alonso waited to satisfy Ocon in parc ferme earlier than congratulating him, with Ocon saying that they had shaped a “sharp duo” collectively.
“We’re working collectively, we’re pushing the crew to try to enhance and get nearer to the pack in entrance,” Ocon stated.
“Everybody informed me plenty of issues about Fernando earlier than I got here, however, every little thing is improper. I can let you know he’s a implausible man inside working, and I am actually having fun with the collaboration now we have collectively.”
The end result marked Ocon’s second F1 podium after his second-place end in final yr’s Sakhir Grand Prix, and got here after a difficult run of type that had seen him endure Q1 knockouts and go 4 races with out scoring any factors.
Ocon thanked the Alpine crew for the belief it has positioned in him and for serving to by “troublesome moments”.
“When you find yourself out in Q1, when you’re P17, you do not know the place you might be precisely, however the crew saved the massive belief,” Ocon stated.
“We’re again the place we belong, in order that’s implausible. Seb was mega fast the entire race, put me beneath massive stress. However yeah, we managed to carry him off in order that was an amazing effort.”