BWT Alpine F1 Team faced its first double retirement of the 2022 FIA Formula 1 season today as both Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso failed to finish the Singapore Grand Prix.
Both drivers retired in quick succession as the team looks to identify suspected power unit issues on both cars.
Heavy rain prior to the race brought a one hour and five-minute delay to the start with both drivers beginning on Intermediate tyres.
Esteban started from seventeenth, folllowing a difficult Qualifying on Saturday. He made a soid opening stint and looked to close towards the top ten.
However shortly after moving into P13, Esteban was forced to retire from the race on lap 27.
The team will investigate the issues, which brought its double retirement, while heading to Suzuka for next weekend’s return of the Japanese Grand Prix.
Esteban Ocon (Started P17, DNF):
“It’s been a frustrating day for the team. On my side, a power unit issue ended our race early and I know the team is currently investigating the exact cause of the failure. It is, of course, very disappointing to leave Singapore with a double retirement but the positive we can take away is that our car has been performing well all weekend and we know we have good pace.
We race again next week in Suzuka, my favourite track on the calendar, so right now we will dust ourselves down and come back stronger in Japan.”
Esteban and the team will be aiming to bounce back next week at the Japanese Grand Prix on the 7-9 October, as Suzuka returns to the calendar for the first time since 2019.
