Reuters
Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 18, 2021 Alpine’s Esteban Ocon during a press conference Pool via REUTERS/Andrej Isakovic
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Qatar Grand Prix – Losail International Circuit, Lusail, Qatar – November 18, 2021 Alpine’s Esteban Ocon during a press conference Pool via REUTERS/Andrej Isakovic
Esteban Ocon has surely turned around his career in some fashion. The French driver has impressed everyone with his consistent performances week-in and week-out in the last two years. But his F1 career has not forever been that straightforward as he sat out the whole of the 2019 season. This was the same year when Force India’s name disappeared from the F1 grid.
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That season, Ocon was a Mercedes reserve driver and was seen a lot on the pit wall with team principal Toto Wolff.
Later in an interview, Ocon revealed the Silver Arrows team boss had promised him a driving seat in the following season. The now Alpine driver also noted how Wolff, as his manager, helped him with a seat at the Enstone-based team for the 2020 season.
Esteban Ocon recalls his time as a Mercedes reserve driver in 2019
Recently, Esteban agreed that he was very well looked after when he was at Mercedes in 2019 as a reserve driver. He also mentioned how he had a really good relationship with Toto Wolff and James Vowles in the garage.
“I was very well looked after. They were trying to find solutions. Toto was quite clear. He said, ‘You will drive in 2020’, and I said, ‘How can you be so sure, Toto? And he said, ‘You will see’. I didn’t want to believe him, because I didn’t want to be disappointed,” said Ocon.
But yes, those three words of affirmation in “you will see” certainly did the magic for the talented Ocon.
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Esteban Ocon of France and Mercedes GP look on in the garage during practice for the F1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Peter Fox/Getty Images)
“…[there have] been quite a few times that, when he spoke about something, it actually happened, and it did happen again. I got to drive in 2020–not in Mercedes, but in Renault–and that was the start of something new for me,” added the Alpine driver.
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The Mercedes team boss kept his promise and landed the French driver a seat at Renault for 2020. This enabled Esteban to further his F1 career and showcase his talent behind the wheel. Since then, he has been able to achieve 2 podium finishes with the French team. It also includes a maiden victory for him in Hungary in 2021.
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Plus, it is refreshing to see that the 25-YO speaks so highly about the person who helped him when things weren’t perfect. Surely, Toto has given him a new lease in F1 by getting him a drive for Alpine.
