Reality: "If you execute a good weekend, you still don't score points"

In Formula 1, the differences between the top teams and the chasers is currently wide. Typically only if Red Bull Racing, Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Aston Martin experience problems during a Grand Prix, is there any prospect of the remaining five teams scoring - a minimal number of - points. A frustrating thought, the drivers of the smaller teams think.

Kevin Magnussen picked up one point in Australia, partly because Verstappen, Hamilton and Russell did not see the finishing line. A boost, making a good race this time a nice reward. That is not always the case. "It's not great. If you execute a really good weekend, then on paper, you still don't score points," the Dane explained.

"But at the same time it makes it even more competitive in the Constructors' Championship, because you've really got to win that B-class race to even have a chance. If you don't win that, then your chances are very small. But, historically, statistically, there will be chances, that one [top] car at some races will not finish or have problems. There's going to be races where it's difficult to overtake and maybe you can be lucky with a safety car or anything like that."

Alpine suddenly backmarkers

Prior to the season, Esteban Ocon and his Alpine hoped to compete with teams like Aston Martin and McLaren. For now, the French team is far too slow for that. Right now, the one-time Grand Prix winner is starting a race knowing that he will end the day without points.

"Obviously, it's the worst thing you can have," Ocon said. "And I honestly hate that. When you do a good weekend and you are not able to enter the scoring points, there's no reward for you at the end. But it's up to us to try and figure out and get more performance and get closer to these cars."

Ocon says the situation he and nine other drivers are in is tough. "To be doing the maximum, knowing that there could be no reward in the end. But it's part of the job. You need to do the best you can with what you have in hand. And that's why I'm here," Ocon concluded.