Alpine driver Esteban Ocon has congratulated his team for his spectacular Hungarian GP win.
Ocon has never won a race in Formula 1. He came close in Sakhir last season, taking P2. However, in a race full of twists and turns and many top contenders retiring, Ocon pounced and led the race. With Sebastian Vettel on his tail throughout the race, Ocon prevailed and crossed the chequered flag first.
Alpine nailed their strategy for the day, when it became clear that Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton had thrown away P1. With the unlikely win, Ocon joins an illustrious group of drivers to win a race in Formula 1. He was quick to thank everyone that had helped him achieve this milestone.
In his post-race interview, Ocon said, “What a moment! It feels so good, first victory since the Renault group came back.”
Ocon also heaped praise on his teammate, the veteran Fernando Alonso, who held off a resurgent Lewis Hamilton long enough for Ocon to take the win. Alonso ended up finishing P5, capping off an incredible day for Alpine.
“We’ve come back to a fantastic pace and…what can I say? Congrats to Fernando too, the win is also thanks to him,” the ecstatic race winner concluded.
As it happened
The race looked like it would be a Mercedes vs Red Bull until Valtteri Bottas crashed into Lando Norris, setting up a chain reaction of collisions and damage. Hamilton led, unfazed, but Ocon escaped unscathed in P2 until the race was red-flagged.
From there, Ocon and the rest of the grid except Hamilton boxed to get rid of the intermediate tires. Hamilton’s gamble would backfire spectacularly, as he slipped down the grid, handing the lead to Ocon.
The Alpine driver led for a large portion of the race laser-focused, and ultimately pipped Vettel to the finish line, sending Alpine and the fans into a frenzy. The Hungarian GP was one for the ages, and at the heart of it was a brilliant Esteban Ocon drive.
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