Ocon feels he's taken a "massive step" in 2017

Force India's Esteban Ocon feels that he has made a "massive step" in the first half of the 2017 season after joining the F1 grid last year at the Belgian Grand Prix where he replaced Rio Haryanto at Manor Racing. So far this year, Ocon has finished inside the points in ten of the 11 races that have been held this season, meaning that he has racked up an impressive 45 points, leaving him in eighth place in the Drivers' Championship.

"If you look at [the pace in] Australia there was a massive step until now," said Ocon. "In the first five races I was continuously improving, then the fine details is the rest that you need to improve and I'm starting to get this. This takes a bit more time obviously, and yes, I'm just learning all the time, and I will not lift off until I get my podium!"

Having already driven the second half of the F1 calendar with Manor last year, the Frenchman admitted that he can approach the second half of 2017 with greater assurance and confidence: "I'm quite happy with how the season went at the moment," he said. "The target was to be scoring points in every race and that's what we're doing, [apart from] in Monaco where we were a bit unlucky.

"I feel more and more comfortable with the team each time I get into the car and with each race I do, and now I will start being on tracks I know, which helps me as well, which is good," he added. "I look forward to what the rest of the season brings, but at the moment I'm happy with what I've done."

Chris Soulsby