Esteban Ocon — 2023 season

Esteban Ocon's 2023 Formula 1 season at Alpine was characterized by a singular podium success at Monaco, set against a backdrop of persistent car reliability challenges and fluctuating team performance in the ground-effect era.

Going in

The 2023 season presented Alpine with the task of solidifying their position in the midfield, a continuation of the ground-effect regulations introduced in 2022. For Esteban Ocon, his third full season with the Enstone outfit, the objective was to build on his established reputation for consistency and opportunistic driving. The team had finished fourth in the Constructors' Championship in 2022, and with a new teammate in Pierre Gasly, the internal dynamic and competitive benchmark were reset. The wider context of the 2023 season, dominated by Red Bull Racing, meant that midfield teams like Alpine were battling for marginal gains and capitalizing on any opportunity presented by the front-runners' rare stumbles.

How it played out

Ocon's season began with immediate challenges, including a "Withdrew" status at the Bahrain Grand Prix from grid 9. His early races saw a pattern of mixed results, with a points finish in Saudi Arabia (8th) followed by a collision-induced retirement in Australia. The pivotal moment arrived at the Monaco Grand Prix, where Ocon secured a third-place finish from a strong third on the grid, delivering Alpine's sole podium of the year.

Following Monaco, Ocon collected further points in Spain and Canada, both finishing 8th. However, the mid-season brought a series of setbacks. Consecutive retirements due to an "Oil leak" in Britain and a "Collision" in Hungary impacted his points tally. The latter half of the season saw a struggle for consistent top-ten finishes, often starting from the lower midfield. Despite these challenges, Ocon demonstrated resilience, notably converting a 16th-place grid start into a 4th-place finish at the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, a significant recovery drive that added 12 points to his total.

By the close of the season, Esteban Ocon had accumulated 58 points, placing him 12th in the Formula 1 — official site World Drivers' Championship. He secured one podium finish, achieved at Monaco, and recorded 6 DNFs throughout the 22-race calendar. His teammate, Pierre Gasly, finished with 62 points, indicating a close internal battle within the Alpine garage, where both drivers faced similar car performance and reliability challenges. The regulations continued to shape the competitive landscape, emphasizing aerodynamic efficiency, an area where Alpine aimed for consistent development.