Paris (AFP)

It is not only his team, Renault now Alpine, which is changing in 2021: the French driver Esteban Ocon begins the F1 season with two new engineers and a new physical trainer, but with the same resolutions.

"My personal goals are to get the most out of the car in all races. To tell yourself when you've finished the weekend that there is nothing you can do better," said he mid-February during a virtual press point in these new colors, no longer yellow but blue-white-red ("a great pride as a French pilot").

If he ended 2020 on his first podium in F1 (a 2nd place at the Sakhir Grand Prix in Bahrain), Ocon did not end with the feeling of duty accomplished in all the GPs of his first season with Renault.

So, "picking up where I finished the year, which was a lot better than where I started, that will be super important, he adds. And to keep building from there."

Deprived of driving in 2019, the 24-year-old driver did not have an easy return the following year.

With 62 points, he finished 12th in the championship, far from 119 units and 5th place from his Australian teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

- "Loan" and "costs" -

While his previous physical trainer ("physio" in F1 jargon) only followed him during the races, the new one is "H-24" since the start of his winter preparation in the Pyrenees.

"It was decided by the team and my management to change small details so that I can keep the level of performance that I manage to have in winter for longer, explains Ocon. Because fatigue accumulates with it. the races and it becomes more and more difficult to train. "

For the time being, in any case, "I feel ready, I feel fresh", assures the person concerned.

The Norman also inherits two new engineers whom he attended when he started out in F1 at Manor in 2016 and with whom he learned to work "in virtual", Covid-19 requires.

"Of course, it's not very pleasant, it's better to do it in real life, but does it affect my preparation?, He wonders. No, because we does it very well despite the distance. "

On the other side of the garage, Ocon will be measuring himself against a new size: Fernando Alonso, not considered the easiest of teammates, who is returning to the team which offered him his world titles in 2005 and 2006.

- "New perspective" -

Two question marks surround the Spaniard's performance, however: he has not raced in F1 since 2018 (but has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans twice in the meantime) and has undergone jaw surgery in February after a bicycle accident.

While Alonso is recovering, with Ocon to do "the heavy lifting" of preparation for the season, in particular the "shakedown" (burn-in), Wednesday at Silverstone, of a single-seater which - it is necessary that certain things change less - is an "evolution" from last year.

Finally, a new management team has taken over the helm of Alpine.

Exit the general manager and "team principal" Cyril Abiteboul and the president Jérôme Stoll.

Alongside Marcin Budkowski, executive director since 2018, place the sporting director Davide Brivio (architect of Suzuki's recent successes in MotoGP) and the general manager Laurent Rossi.

"They bring a new perspective, it's refreshing", rejoices the pilot.

"In F1, it's very easy to focus on everything there is to think about but forget about the sport a bit. I think Davide is going to put that competitive spirit back in front of us at all times."

After their first laps on Wednesday, Ocon and his 2.0 team will only have a day and a half of pre-season testing in Bahrain between March 12 and 14 to complete their preparation.

Then, - a good omen, we hope - 2021 will start on March 28 on the circuit on which the Frenchman climbed on the podium no later than the beginning of December.

© 2021 AFP