06 January 2023 , 20:01
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Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer has warned Esteban Ocon to show "better judgement" when battling with his team-mate on track, after his infamous run-in with Fernando Alonso last year.
During the Sprint race in Brazil, the two Alpine racers collided – causing them to both finish outside the points. That calamity sparked a public dressing-down by Szafnauer but, although they made up for it somewhat in the main race the next day, the damage to their relationship had been done.
Alonso had already grown frustrated throughout the season, hinting on several occasions that he felt the Frenchman was getting preferential treatment. The veteran had already confirmed his plan to join Aston Martin long before that incident in Brazil, after which he made it clear he couldn't wait to "finally" leave.
Ocon was not completely at fault for the failure of that partnership, but he does have previous. During his Racing Point days, he was involved in several flashpoints with his team-mate Sergio Perez. So there are concerns ahead of the new season, during which he will race alongside Pierre Gasly.
Szafnauer was Ocon's boss at Racing Point a few years ago as well as at Alpine today. Having seen plenty of examples of the Frenchman being involved in rash and costly collisions, he has called upon the racer to play more nicely with his compatriot in the coming season.
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"He needs to probably make better judgements when his team mates are next to him, because you don't win it on the first lap, team-mate or not," said Szafnauer. "If you're aggressive against a competitor, and you both go out, you both lose.
Alpine chief Otmar Szafnauer wants Ocon to show better judgement (Getty Images)"If you're aggressive against the team-mate, and you both go out, guess who loses? So it's just that better judgement, and get them later. If we need reminders, I'm happy to remind him." The American also confirmed that message had been made clear to Ocon privately.
Even despite that unsavoury moment with Alonso last year, Szafnauer believes Ocon is "definitely more mature" than he was a few years ago. He added: "He's got a better understanding. I think the thing that really pleases me about Esteban is that under pressure, he often does not make a mistake.
"I've seen it with him when he won against Vettel. I was there, we had a faster car. And he did not make a mistake. He placed his car, driving in his mirrors in the right place, not one mistake, to take the win. I think it was even more impressive for me in wet conditions, drying in Suzuka, not an easy track to drive, with Lewis behind you, in a quicker car the entire time, and you finish ahead of him.
"That to me is impressive. So he's matured, he's got better from that regard. And he is fast. Can he make improvements? Yeah, we will work on getting him better in some areas."