'Legend' Alonso has still got it after Abu Dhabi GP 'tricks'

10:20, 10 Dec

Updated: 10:37, 10 Dec

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byKada Sarkozi

Fernando Alonso's former teammate Esteban Ocon could only praise the "legend" after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

"He still knows the tricks, it pisses me off. But yeah, he's incredible, he's a legend."

- Esteban Ocon

Ocon finished seventh behind his ex-teammate at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

After the start, Alonso maintained sixth place, and held on to it until the chequered flag, which also meant Aston Martin finished seventh in the constructors' championship, ahead of Haas.

After the race, Ocon also explained that the 44-year-old driver has it.

He told GPblog: "I'm very happy to finish the season like that. There's a bittersweet taste to that one because it's the last 10 races we should have been strong like this. And it hurts that we've missed the constructors' championship because of that.

"We couldn't beat Aston Martin today, but it's before that we should have scored more points. Really strong race, other than that, I think we showed great pace, great tyre management, good overtaking as well.

"It was nice to fight, to be able to fight like that all the way and catching back to the front. But effectively, Fernando was too strong."

Alonso ahead of Ocon at the Abu Dhabi GP - Photo: Race Pictures

Alonso's tricks in Abu Dhabi

Ocon continued: "He was managing extremely well in that tight part. We were all stuck behind him. And then he was pushing in the next four corners. And then that was opening enough of a gap for us not to overtake [him]."

"So yes, he still knows the tricks, [it] pisses me off," he said with a smile.

"But yeah, he's incredible, he's a legend. Today, we were not quick enough to be able to try and go in front of him.

"So missing out by three points is, as I said, difficult to swallow, but nice to end the championship on such a note, and good to build up the foundation for next year like this," the Frenchman concluded.

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