Esteban Ocon returns to Q3 in Miami: "We couldn't have done better"

Hope is reborn for Esteban Ocon and to HaasThe Frenchman has been struggling in recent weeks, occupying the thankless role of team leader, expected to take his team to the top. Or at least, initially, to serve as a guinea pig for the settings tested by the American team, in search of progress.

Ocon may have found his way to El Dorado in Miami by reaching Q3 for the first time this season. While the Norman continues to complain about his car, he praises the progress made between the sprint and qualifying and especially notes the potential that Haas' VF-25 has.

“We turned everything upside down!” he smiles into the Canal+ microphone, referring to the changes made to his car. “The team did a great job, because we have these issues with the car: a lot of lockups, a lack of front end at certain speeds… We managed to overcome some of the issues we had, even if there are still quite a few. That's why I think there's good potential in this car, and I'm looking forward to seeing where we are at the next race with the arrival of updates. We optimized everything well today, so I'm happy for everyone, and for myself too, of course. We couldn't have done better. It will be nice to start in the points tomorrow, so we'll try to manage it and bring the car home.”

Having scored points twice this season, in China (5th) and Bahrain (8th), the former driver Alpine believes in his chances of increasing his team's points tally in Miami, while Williams took back fifth place in the constructors' standings from Haas after the Saudi Arabian GP. "If we qualified here, it's because we have the speed to go for the points. There was nothing better to extract from my lap.", assures Esteban Ocon. "Normally, we have a better pace in the race, but it won't be easy to score points tomorrow. Since we're already starting in the top 10, we don't need to try crazy strategies, we just need to consolidate our position."

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