1
Esteban Ocon has not forgotten the commitment his parents made for his career, stating that sometimes things were not so easy. The Frenchman spent much of his childhood in a caravan to accommodate the expenses of racing.
The 20-year-old made his Formula 1 debut in 2016 for Manor, replacing Rio Haaryanto from the Belgian Grand Prix to the end of the season. He received a call up to Force India over former teammate Pascal Wehrlein for 2017. Reflecting to Reuters on his journey so far, he stated that a lot was done to ensure he made it to where he is now.
"It hasn’t been easy," he said. "A lot of sacrifices were done for me to keep racing. We were living in a caravan for a long time. We needed all the money to be able to pay for the racing. I was very lucky to get (into) Gravity Academy, with money, to support my career. And then the Lotus F1 junior team until Formula Three and then Mercedes, because if not it was over already from go-karts."
He also admitted that his parents put a lot of faith in him, and his way of life was rather unorthodox to those around him when he was really turning to motorsport as a professional career.
"My parents were believing in me and they knew I had the talent to do it. I’d finish a weekend (of racing), (caravan) stopped in front of the school, slept there, hear the ring of the school, wake up, go into school. So we were (parked) just in front of the school.
"I was 11 or 12 or something. I was happy to live in the caravan back then. I was enjoying my life, I was doing karting all the time and it was awesome for me."
After first four races of the 2017 season, Ocon is yet to finish a race outside of the top 10 and is impressing folk up and down the paddock. Ocon also spoke about his childhood hero Michael Schumacher, and how he keeps in contact with son Mick Schumacher, who is currently competing in the Formula 3 European Championship.
"I never talked to Michael but I feel like when I talk to him (Mick), I talk to Michael," he said. "I’ve looked at most of his (Schumacher's) races... I think I have learned stuff from him but I don’t compare myself to him. I have a different driving style and am probably different as well.
"I have always been for Michael. I grew up with his helmet. In karting I was racing with his helmet, full red. Just my name instead of Michael up there... the colour has changed but the design is the same and it will stay like this."
Fergal Walsh
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Grand Prix of BelgiumLocal time
Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
M. Verstappen
C. Sainz jr
C. Leclerc
Bahrain
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
Australia
Albert Park
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
Monaco
Monte Carlo
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
Austria
Red Bull Ring
United Kingdom
Silverstone
Hungary
Hungaroring
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
Italy
Monza
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Brazil
Interlagos
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
4 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Pascal Wehrlein
65,123 comments on Lotus F1 15 members have this team as their favourite Tweets about Lotus F1
Replies (1)
Login to replyf1fan0101
Posts: 1,804
Certainly a great talent, has a lot of potential to be a champion