Ocon benefitted from first-lap drama and a method miscue by Mercedes to maneuver into the lead of the race on the fifth lap earlier than controlling proceedings en path to a surprise win for Alpine.
Ocon spent nearly all of the race being intently adopted by Aston Martin’s Sebastian Vettel, who was inside DRS vary for vital intervals however by no means in a position to get shut sufficient to aim an overtake.
It marked the primary time that Ocon had led in F1, and was his first victory since his taking his sole GP3 win in Might 2015 on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
However regardless of not having latest expertise preventing on the very entrance of the sector, Ocon defined after the race that he felt no lack of sharpness.
“No, I did not really feel rusty, and I am sorry to disappoint, nevertheless it’s simpler to battle on the entrance like we did now, to handle the opponents which might be behind, than to battle within the midfield how we’re doing [usually],” Ocon mentioned.
“That’s a lot more durable. So the entire time in Components 1 I had fairly good coaching. The battle within the midfield is quite a bit more durable than what’s taking place within the entrance.
“It was arduous with Seb placing plenty of strain. He gave me a tough time, however if you end up forward, you have got clear air, you’re the one who’s dictating the tempo on such a observe.”
Vettel would later be disqualified from the results over a fuel infringement, however had mentioned after the race that he felt he was faster than Ocon, leaving him pissed off that he couldn’t catch and cross the Alpine driver.
Esteban Ocon, Alpine A521, Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin AMR21
Photograph by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
The win marked the primary for the Alpine model in F1, the primary for Renault since its works return in 2016, and the primary for the Enstone-based outfit since Kimi Raikkonen’s Australian Grand Prix victory for Lotus in 2013.
However Ocon feared at one stage that he and Alpine had made the unsuitable name after being the primary automobile within the queue to pit for slicks earlier than the standing begin.
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Race chief Lewis Hamilton opted to remain out on intermediates, leaving Ocon to steer a practice of 14 automobiles into the pits whereas Hamilton took the standing begin alone on the grid.
Ocon mentioned it was a “tough choice” to modify to slicks, noting that “Lewis usually does not take unsuitable selections”.
“I’ve by no means seen him taking a unsuitable choice, so to field if you end up P2 on the highway, it is a bit heart-breaking at first,” Ocon mentioned.
“However I am glad that we did it as a result of we had been a great distance forward. The fellows did an awesome pitstop as effectively.
“Sebastian had a gradual cease, that is most likely what made the distinction, as a result of they might most likely have undercut us on that. So yeah, the blokes within the storage once more, prime job by them.”