Bahrain Grand Prix

Alpine blame "defective prototype" for Ocon sidepod explosion

Ewan Gale Sunday 20 March 2022 10:35

Alpine blame "defective prototype" for Ocon sidepod explosion

Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi has blamed the sidepod explosion suffered by Esteban Ocon during Bahrain Grand Prix practice on a "possibly defective prototype" component.

The season got off to the worst possible start for Ocon as the right-hand sidepod of the A522 ripped itself away from its fixings just seven minutes into the first practice session of the year, leaving a shower of debris behind him.

The French manufacturer had arrived at the first round of the year with an update to its sidepods but was immediately forced to revert to the old-specification parts as a precaution.

New team principal Otmar Szafnauer initially explained it was likely to be a "one-off" issue but having looked over the problem, Rossi said: "It looks like we are angling towards a possibly defective prototype part.

"The problem is, the piece we suspect is defective, we didn't recover it, it is somewhere on the track. We are pretty sure it is the problem."

Ahead of the race at the Bahrain International Circuit, Fernando Alonso qualified eighth, with Ocon lining up 11th.

Addressing the A522's performance overall, Rossi insisted he was "pleasantly surprised versus the last report from two weeks ago".

He added: "At the same time, we have been working towards that so I am not that surprised and I think the two cars are in a slightly different position at the moment so let's see."

Latest News

GPFans Recap

Ricciardo tipped for NEW F1 role as star makes COMEBACK at Las Vegas Grand Prix - GPFans Recap

2 hours ago

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: The music artists set to star at STUNNING event

3 hours ago

Latest F1 News

Mercedes star SHOCKED by FIA reaction after damning drivers' statement

Yesterday 21:33

Latest F1 News

Verstappen reveals F1 RETIREMENT clue ahead of Las Vegas GP

Yesterday 20:47

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton drops Mercedes BOMBSHELL ahead of Las Vegas GP

Yesterday 20:02

Las Vegas Grand Prix

F1 star reveals DEPORTATION threat at Las Vegas Grand Prix

Yesterday 19:18

More news

F1 Race Calendar 2024

GP AUSTRIA 28 - 30 Jun

George Russell

GP GREAT BRITAIN 5 - 7 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP HUNGARY 19 - 21 Jul

Oscar Piastri

GP BELGIUM 26 - 28 Jul

Lewis Hamilton

GP NETHERLANDS 23 - 25 Aug

Lando Norris

GP ITALY 30 Aug - 1 Sep

Charles Leclerc

GP AZERBAIJAN 13 - 15 Sep

Oscar Piastri

GP SINGAPORE 20 - 22 Sep

Lando Norris

GP USA 18 - 20 Oct

Charles Leclerc

GP MEXICO 25 - 27 Oct

GP QATAR 29 Nov - 1 Dec

GP ABU DHABI 6 - 8 Dec

Complete kalender 2024

F1 News 24/7

Races

About GPFans

GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.

We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.

With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.

Follow us on your favorite social media channel

Corporate & Media

Innovatieweg 20C
7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860

CHOOSE YOUR COUNTRY

Alpine blame "defective prototype" for Ocon sidepod explosion

Alpine blame "defective prototype" for Ocon sidepod explosion