The pair traded places several times during a fraught battle in the early stages of the Saudi Arabian GP.
Szafnauer, who at one point was pictured on the pit wall with his head in his hands, admits that his main concern was that the pink cars were losing ground to those behind.
Valtteri Bottas and Kevin Magnussen were both able to join the battle, and as the former got closer Ocon was told to “hold station” in an effort to allow both Alpines to stay clear of the Alfa. The Frenchman was also asked to lift and coast to bring temperatures down.
However, shortly after the hold station order was delivered Bottas got ahead of Ocon to split the Alpines.
Ocon eventually got back ahead of the Alfa, when Bottas had to pit with a temperature issue. He finished in sixth place, having fended off Lando Norris on the last lap, while Alonso retired with a loss of drive.
“It’s a high-speed track here, the walls are close,” said Szafnauer of the internal battle. “But look, they did…
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