The Austrian Grand Prix was a disappointing one for the Alpine F1 Team, with Fernando Alonso scoring a single point and Esteban Ocon retiring on the opening lap at the Red Bull Ring.
After both drivers qualified poorly, Alpine F1 Team Executive Director Marcin Budkowski knew that scoring any points was going to be a challenge. Alonso rose to the challenge however and had a race long battle with Williams Racing’s George Russell, who was occupying the final points spot. Alonso overtook the British driver with only four laps remaining, to finish in tenth and extend his consecutive points finishes to four races in a row.
Ocon had another race to forget in Austria, the Frenchman’s race lasted three corners after being sandwiched in between Mick Schumacher and Antonio Giovinazzi on the exit of turn three, breaking his front-right suspension. Ocon retired immediately.
Budkowski believes that tenth is a good result considering how poor qualifying was and is hoping for a better result at the British Grand Prix.
“Considering the circumstances, finishing in tenth place is a decent result as it was always going be a challenge to score points from fourteenth and seventeenth on the grid. Esteban got sandwiched at Turn 3 on the first lap and was forced to retire with a broken suspension.
“We executed the one-stop strategy really well with a perfectly timed pit-stop and two good stints from Fernando. His pace was strong and it’s frustrating not to be able to capitalise on that today due to the outcome of yesterday’s qualifying. We’re looking forward to racing in Silverstone, our second home race, and returning to where we should be with both cars.”
