P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Alpine driver Esteban Ocon has issued a warning to his F1 rivals as he looks to bounce back from an underwhelming 2023 campaign, vowing to switch to “war mode”.
In the drivers’ championship, Ocon was outperformed by his new teammate Pierre Gasly. Although they were only separated by four points at the end of the season, Ocon had more bad luck. In the second half of the year, Gasly consistently outpaced Ocon, especially in qualifying. Reflecting on the season, Ocon acknowledged that there were some positive moments and opportunities, but overall, the lack of consistency was a problem. Nine DNFs, including issues with the gearbox in Singapore and contact with Oscar in Austin, cost them valuable points and potentially a top 10 finish in the championship. Looking ahead to 2024, Ocon plans to resume training on December 17th and fully focus on racing starting from January 2nd, adopting a no-life, flat-out approach. He intends to shift his focus back to racing and minimize outside distractions. However, before that, he will attend the team’s Christmas party, engage in simulator work, and spend time with family and friends.
