BWT Alpine F1 Team clinched fourth place in the 2022 FIA Formula 1 World Championship Constructors’ Championship after Esteban Ocon claimed six points from today’s season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The team ends the year on 173 points with Esteban on 92 points to take eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship and Fernando on 81 points to finish in ninth.
Strategy proved the key in today’s 58-lap race with tough decisions throughout the field in opting for a one-stop or two-stop plan. Esteban committed to a two-stop, pitting on laps 14 and 41 for Hard tyres. In the end, Esteban narrowly missed out on pipping Lando Norris, crossing the line just one-second behind his McLaren rival.
The team scored eleven double top ten finishes throughout the 2022 season with a best result of fourth place achieved by Esteban at the Japanese Grand Prix.
In addition, the team’s 173 points is an improvement of 18 points from its 2021 campaign as it continues its upwards trajectory on the 100-place plan.
Esteban Ocon (Started P8, Finished P7):
“I would like to say a massive congratulations to the whole team, here trackside and at the factories in Enstone and Viry, for claiming fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. It’s been a long and intense season and it feels good to have reached the goal we set at the beginning of the year.
On my side, it is the best points finish of my career, so that is very satisfying. In terms of today’s race, seventh place is a great result and, with one more lap, it could have been sixth as I was catching Lando [Norris] at the end.
I have enjoyed the last couple of years with Fernando and I wish him all the best for next year. He will always be a legend of this team and, of the sport, and I look forward to racing him on-track next season. Now it’s time for a break before getting back to work to prepare for next year.”
Formula 1 heads into the winter break, but Esteban will be straight into preparing for the 2023 Formula One World Championship, where he will partner fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly at Alpine F1 Team when the season kicks off at Bahrain on the 3-5 March.
