It’s no secret that Esteban Ocon has always idolized Michael Schumacher as he was growing up with a dream of racing in Formula 1. However, what he said recently happened when he was watching the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix with his family takes his role model stuff to the next level. What happened in Monaco in 2004, you ask? Well, for starters, 10 drivers failed to finish the race that day. And yes, Michael was one of them.

Born in Évreux, Normandy, Esteban Ocon had humble beginnings in his racing career, dreaming of racing glory as he admired Michael Schumacher’s prowess behind the wheel. Growing up in the aura of Schumacher’s dominance, Ocon used to emulate the seven-time world champion, even mirroring his iconic red-suited appearance during his karting days.

Esteban Ocon couldn’t believe what he saw when Michael came out of the Monaco tunnel in 2004

His connection with Michael runs deep, rooted in family traditions of watching Formula 1 races on TV since he was a little child. His admiration for Schumacher, however, extended beyond the TV screen to the grandstands. When he was just 10 years old, he attended the French Grand Prix in 2006. Ocon wore a Michael T-shirt, witnessing the intensity of passionate fans and the thrill of Schumacher’s victory.

The Frenchman’s dream to follow in the footsteps of Michael Schumacher had its first moment of realization when he was 18. After winning the 2014 Formula 3 title, Ocon got the opportunity to do his first test with Ferrari at Fiorano as a reward. In a recent conversation with Formula 1, Esteban Ocon told the story of how he reacted when Michael Schumacher retired from the 2004 Monaco Grand Prix.

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“I have a memory of playing with a model car when the Monaco Grand Prix was on. And it must have been 2004 because it was the race where you see Michael go into the tunnel – and back then there were not such good images inside the tunnel – and then we see him coming out with three wheels! And then I was like, I just could not believe my eyes, like, what has happened?! And I was just… I was not understanding. I think I cried that day! So yeah, it was that bad,“ Esteban recalled.

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His love for Schumacher extends beyond just Michael. Mick Schumacher is a good friend of the Frenchman, and as soon as the seat at Alpine got vacant when Fernando Alonso jumped ship, he was quick to suggest that he would like to partner with Mick.

Why did Ocon want Mick Schumacher as his teammate?

When the news of Fernando Alonso moving to Aston Martin for 2023 came out, Alpine had to quickly sort out the situation and secure a driver alongside Esteban Ocon. While the decision did not rest in the hands of the Frenchman, he quickly expressed his strong desire to see his “good friend” Mick Schumacher as his potential teammate.

Despite rumors of Pierre Gasly moving to Alpine gaining momentum, Ocon made it clear that Schumacher remains his top choice, not just due to their friendship, but also based on Schumacher’s talent and resilience. Ocon empathetically drew parallels between Schumacher’s challenging season with Haas and his own early experiences with a struggling Manor team in Formula 1. “Sometimes in Formula 1, it’s not easy to perform with a car that’s a bit on the back foot – I had that when I started in F1. People know that my choice if I had anything to say would be Mick if he doesn’t have anything lined up next year,” Ocon told the reporters at Zandvoort.

“Mick is a good friend of mine first of all, so if I can help on that [move], that’s no problem,” said Ocon. He further praised Schumacher’s talents in junior categories and expressed confidence that the young German could shine in a competitive car like the Alpine.

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Do you think Mick could have excelled at Alpine if they picked him over Gasly? And does he deserve a chance to get back in F1? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below.