Alonso and Ocon discuss “rollercoaster” COTA circuit
Alpine’s Esteban Ocon described the Circuit of the America’s (COTA) as “like an exciting rollercoaster ride” as the 2022 FIA Formula 1 championship heads to Austin for Round 19 of the year.
“COTA is like an exciting rollercoaster ride for driver and machine that really puts both to the test,” explained the Frenchman.
Ocon added: “You can split the circuit in two parts with the very high-speed section at the start, going pretty much flat out before Turn 11.
“Then, following the long back straight, we tackle a combination of technical low-speed corners to end the lap.”
Fernando Alonso, Ocon’s team mate, echoed the French drivers sentiments, saying that the circuit “usually provides exciting racing” with ample opportunities to overtake.
Alonso expanded by adding: “The circuit in Austin has a good mixture of straights and corners, and it has a lot of undulations and sweeping corners.
“Sector 1 is especially fun but also a real challenge,” the double-World Champion concluded.
Alonso finished third in 2012, F1’s first visit to COTA, which remains his best result while Ocon has a best of sixth in 2017 and was disqualified from his eighth placed finish in 2018 for exceeding fuel flow limits.
Alpine will be searching for another good haul of points in their battle with McLaren for fourth in the Constructors’ championship, the French team currently 13-points ahead of their British rivals.