Alpine chief executive Laurent Rossi commended the French F1 outfit for its strong performance in last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon delivered to the team its first podium since Qatar in 2021 after a flawless and combative race in the streets of the Principality.
Pierre Gasly added to the Enstone squad’s points haul by finishing seventh.
Overall, the result certainly boosted the team’s credit in the eyes of Rossi who recently heavily criticized the outfit for its poor results, calling into question its crews professionalism, mindset and ability to execute.
Rossi’s scathing public comments sent a shockwave through the team, with the executive also warning of changes if the outfit did not quickly get its act together, although he made clear that Ocon and Gasly had no responsibility in Alpine’s underperformance.
“I am happy. I am happy for the team,” the Frenchman told Reuters ahead of celebrating Ocon’s podium in Monte Carlo.
“I’m not going to say I want them to finish P3 every race, that would be unrealistic – I would love that, but we still have a lot of work to do to get there.
“But yes, certainly be serious, applied, deliver a strong performance like they did this weekend – drivers, engineers, mechanics, everyone here at the track and in Enstone and Viry.”
Alpine isn’t out of the woods yet, and team boss Otmar Szafnauer confirmed in Monaco that structural changes are on their way at Enstone.
But the team’s solid weekend in the Principality hopefully alleviated part of Rossi’s concerns and reduced the massive pressure on Alpine’s crews.
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Rossi delighted with Ocon podium, but ‘still work to do’ F1i.com.
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