Ocon hails Alpine’s best weekend of the season

In brief

Ocon hails Alpine’s best weekend of the season

Esteban Ocon has picked out last weekend’s Belgian GP as Alpine’s best of the season and his best since joining the team in 2020.

The 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix winner was fifth-fastest in qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps but grid penalties meant he started 16th. He made his way back up to seventh by the end of the race – with a three-wide pass down the Kemmel Straight on the way – while team mate Fernando Alonso finished fifth from third on the grid.

“I think it’s been our best weekend of the year so far and probably since I joined the team,” Ocon said. “I think the update that we brought here, how the car was performing, definitely there is no comparison to how we were, even in Budapest.

“I’m very, very impressed, there’s still more tools for us to come, so that’s definitely giving us a boost of confidence for the rest of the year.”

Ocon added he was “really disappointed” that he had to start the grand prix from 16th, as “I knew we were going to be fast”.

Tsunoda coy on his Honda future but confident of 2023 seat

Yuki Tsunoda is yet to be confirmed as racing for AlphaTauri in Formula 1 next year, but the Red Bull and Honda junior driver does not have doubt that he will not retain his seat for a third season.

“I cannot say anything about that [Honda’s involvement in my future], but I know what things that kind of trigger or will trigger that upon next year’s contract.

“For the moment I cannot say [details], just have to drive. For myself, the things I can do now is just to focus on myself and just make the results.”

The Japanese driver is currently 16th in the standings, and has not scored since May’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Andretti and Dennis continue Formula E partnership

Jake Dennis will continue to race for Andretti Autosport in Formula E next season, the first of the series’ Gen3 era.

For the 2022-23 campaign, Andretti will switch from BMW to Porsche for powertrains and Dennis is the first driver to be confirmed as racing for the team next year. He has won three races and claimed three pole positions in his first two FE seasons with the team, and had been courted by rivals before electing to remain with the Anglo-American outfit on a new multi-year deal.

“I started my FE journey with Andretti and…