Esteban Ocon has shared his experience during the 2019 Formula 1 season, a year marked by his presence as a reserve driver for Mercedes. This time off the track was one of the most challenging moments of his career, following a series of unexpected turns in his professional journey.
In July 2018, Ocon experienced a peak moment, leading the drivers’ standings in his second full year in F1, but negotiations with Renault and McLaren complicated his situation. In an interview with Autosport, he commented: “It was difficult,” reflecting on the challenges he faced that year.
Initially, Ocon was considered a potential substitute for Valtteri Bottas, but Mercedes opted to renew the Finnish driver’s contract. In fact, the French driver conducted seat tests with McLaren, but Renault managed to secure his signing, only to later choose Daniel Ricciardo instead.
Thus, Ocon ended up as a reserve driver, with a year full of frustrations. He expressed that: “It was a tough year. I wasn’t happy, of course, being where I was. I developed a car overnight and did the work of two reserve drivers by myself.” Despite his limited testing opportunities with Mercedes, his commitment was evident.
Ocon also spoke about how he felt the emotional impact of not being able to drive a winning car. “I went back to the rental car and cried,” he remembered. His hope was to stay active and prepare for a potential return to competition.
Eventually, Ocon found his opportunity with Renault, a step that led him to his first victory in F1 in Hungary. However, George Russell’s rise has limited his options to drive a Mercedes in the future.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
