F1 Monza GP – Ocon admits mistake on the radio, then explains: “A really disappointing qualifying”
It was a bitter qualifying session for Haas driver Esteban Ocon, who later explained the reasons behind his elimination in Q2 at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Both Haas drivers, Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman, failed to reach Q3. The Frenchman will start from 15th on the grid, while Bearman secured 11th place. For Haas, scoring points would be crucial in the fight for eighth place in the Constructors’ Championship against Kick Sauber.
Slipstream tactics played a fundamental role in qualifying at Monza. Pit walls had to calculate down to the millisecond when to release their drivers, ensuring they could benefit from the tow of a teammate or a rival. That was not the case for Esteban Ocon.
Esteban Ocon’s disappointment
Knowing how important the slipstream was at Monza, no driver—apart from the McLaren pair—wanted to head out on track first. However, in his final Q1 attempt, Esteban Ocon was the one to lead the pack. The French driver did not hesitate to question the decision over team radio. His race engineer, Lara Müller, admitted that had they waited any longer, there would not have been enough time to complete the lap. After the session, Esteban Ocon reflected: “Yes, it was really a disappointing session. In general, I think in Q1 we shouldn’t have been in that position, so it was a bit tricky being there. We didn’t have exactly the right track position, and then in Q2 we really couldn’t maximise the whole lap.”
Alongside the track position issue, car balance also played a role in his difficulties: “The car felt worse in Q2 compared to Q1. I had problems with front-end rotation, front locking, and a lot of understeer at high speeds. In general, it was a balance similar to what I felt at the beginning of the season, so we need to properly investigate what went wrong and hope it doesn’t come back tomorrow.”
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