Esteban Ocon

## Career Overview

### **Force India (2016)**

Esteban Ocon made his F1 debut in 2016 with near backmarkers, Force India. Ocon's first points came in China, with a 9th place finish. Taking two 11th place finishes in the next two races, results looked to be on the up for the Frenchman. However, disaster would strike at the Monaco Grand Prix - trundling back to the pits with a puncture and brake fire, Ocon would block off five-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel. Forcing Vettel to pit with damage, and for continuing to drive with a dangerous car, Ocon was disqualified from the race. Ocon would fight back two races later, making the most of a one-stop strategy to take his first podium in F1 at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

### **Toyota (2017)**

Ocon was retained by Toyota, following the buy out of Force India. Despite scoring points in the first five races, disaster would yet again strike at the Monaco Grand Prix. Unwilling to be lapped by the Williams-BMW of Josh Tirowee, Ocon attempted to put the Brit into the barrier at the hairpin. Given a one race ban, Ocon was forced to sit out the Canadian Grand Prix, and was replaced by Kamui Kobayashi. After impressing in his first race since Brazil 2014, Toyota announced three days after the race that Kobayashi would retain race seat for the remainder of the season.

### **Renault (2020 - 2021)**

After falling out of favour with Toyota, Ocon moved to the vacant reserve seat as Renault, as Valtteri Bottas announced his official retirement from F1 at the close of 2017.

Ocon made his return to a race seat at the 2020 Chinese Grand Prix. He replaced countryman Jean-Eric Vergne, after Vergne learned he would be losing his seat for 2021. Ocon had a quiet, but clean race to finish fifth on debut for Renault.

#### **2021**

Renault come into 2021 with a whole new driver lineup. Frustration in the team grew with Hulkenberg and Vergne at not securing a race victory, and losing out to Alfa Romeo for second overall due to lack of consistency from both drivers. Esteban Ocon is given a full time drive, after missing out last season, and expected to be the team number one. That was until Renault made the name signing of the decade, and sign three-time World Champion Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard not quite ready to hang up his helmet yet.

Ocon would struggle somewhat in the opening race. After being shown up in qualifying by Alonso, Ocon would have a rather uneventful race in the midfield, before retiring in the closing laps. Alonso would struggle in Round two. The Spaniard was knocked out in Q2 at COTA, and would only recover to 9th in the race. Team mate Esteban Ocon finished 2nd. Ocon's pace improved again at the Mexican Grand Prix, finishing in 3rd.

Ocon endured a mixed season over the 12 races, finishing 8th overall.

### **Alpine (2022)**

Esteban Ocon will again look to back up Fernando Alonso and help guide Alpine-Renault to Constructor's success.

In the opening race, Ocon completed a front row for Alpine, and went on to finish third in the race.

Round 7, Italy, Alonso has one of his best performances. The track was green following a washed-out FP3. Alonso made the best of the conditions to secure pole in the dying seconds of Qualifying. Alonso held the lead at the start from a charging Albon. Lap 12, Verstappen and Alonso headed to the pits for Hard tyres. Zhou Guanyu stayed out for another lap looking for an overcut. The Chinese driver's AR/22 appeared well suited to the Hards, as he powered into the lead on lap 17. His time at the front was short lived, as Alonso retook the lead on lap 19. Verstappen held the lead going onto the final lap, only for Alonso to power past and hold on to take the victory.

It was a different story on the side of the garage. Ocon started down in 18th due to penalties. Lap 21, there was action between Red Bull and Alpine. Ocon tried for a move on Sergio Perez, but made contact with the Mexican, and had to put from a new front wing. Despite charging through on Softs, the Frenchman finished outside the points.

There was a mass-pileup during the Belgian Grand Prix involving Ocon. Most drivers made their one stop at the end of lap 10. Perez pitted for Hard tyres. At pit exit, his RB18 suffered a gearbox issue, as was stuck in second. The Mercedes behind of Russell plowed into Perez, shattering parts of the M13 all over the track. Unsighted drivers behind plowed into the wreckage. Russell, Gasly, Ocon, Albon and Matsushita all left behind their wrecked machines.

The four former would receive medical attention. The red flag was brought out, allowing Verstappen to hold the lead. Perez's fate wad sealed on the reconnaissance lap to the rolling restart, another gearbox issue holding the Mexican.

Ocon put in a timely performance at Round 11, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. The Frenchman had the better of Alonso all weekend. Ocon fought his way up to second, holding off a relentless Leclerc in the final laps. Alonso had a quiet race, only finishing in 7th.

Alpine's championship bids fell apart at Brazil. Alonso could only manage 5th in Q3, with Ocon 9th. Verstappen took pole, and went into the race with a 5 point advantage over the Spaniard. Alonso gained one place on the opening lap, but Ocon broke off his front wing through turn 3 and had to pit. Alonso's bid for a fifth championship was all but over by lap 30, as the Spaniard had fallen back behind Russell, as well as Perez and Zhou. The outgoing champion finished a defeated 8th. Ocon was almost lapped on his way to 18th. Alpine slipped to 3rd in a two-horse race, due to Alfa Romeo's late season consistency.

## Racing Record (Formula One Results Only)

Results in **bold** indicate Championships won.