Esteban Ocon’s Farewell Gift from Alpine
Esteban Ocon is set to bid farewell to Alpine after five seasons, as his contract will not be extended. However, the 27-year-old driver won’t be leaving empty-handed. In the lead-up to the Hungarian Grand Prix, the Frenchman received a special farewell gift from the team – the Alpine A521, the car with which he won his only Grand Prix in Hungary.
Ocon’s Special Moment
Esteban Ocon shared images of the car on social media this week. In the presence of his girlfriend and parents – who played a significant role in his journey to Formula 1 – he gave the A521 a special place in his personal garage. The light blue speedster brought him his first and only victory during the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix.
Ocon and Alpine’s Surprise Victory
Ocon and Alpine capitalized on a chaotic race and emerged as surprise winners. “The Hungarian Grand Prix will always be special to me,” Ocon stated. “It was my first victory and the first win for Alpine.” The Enstone-based team bid farewell to the Renault name in 2021 and operated as Alpine for the first time.
Ocon’s Thoughts on the Hungaroring
“The Hungaroring is one of my favorite circuits on the calendar,” Ocon continued. “It’s a fantastic track with beautiful corner combinations, where you have to rely heavily on your downforce. Overtaking can be a bit tricky, so it all comes down to a good qualification.”
