Esteban Ocon: “My childhood dream coming true”

The first free practice session for the Belgian Grand Prix on August 26 will not be like the previous ones carried out by Esteban Ocon on behalf of the Renault Sport F1 Team. The 19-year-old from Normandy will take part in his first event in the F1 World Championship as a starter.

The former European champion F3 and current defending champion in the GP3 Series will start within the Manor Racing team, after the confirmation of his promotion to replace the Indonesian Rio Haryanto. Before this big meeting, Esteban Ocon took part in the game of questions and answers with AUTOweekly.

Arriving in F1, is it both an end or a beginning? Which feelings prevail?

It’s a start in the sense that it’s my childhood dream coming true. I remember when I became French Minimes champion in karting, during my very first interview for AB Engines, having said that I wanted to be an F1 driver when I grew up. And obviously, everyone was laughing, because it was so far away...

It’s a lot of work and a lot of sacrifice that results in something. So it’s not an end, but a stage, and I hope that my career is far from ending. I will do everything to make this a start.

These nine Grands Prix at Manor will be dissected, dissected by Renault. Does your future with the Losange depend on this half-season?

No idea. […] The important thing is that I give the best of myself, which will open doors for me. If I start asking myself these questions, the job will definitely be less good...

Find our full interview with Esteban Ocon in issue 2076 of AUTOweekly, available in digital version, and on newsstands.