D-2: Will Ocon succeed in his bet at Force India?

Unlike Pascal Wehrlein, the other protégé of Mercedes placed with Sauber F1 Team, Esteban Ocon should have a car competitive with the Force India VJM10. The 2015 GP3 Series champion should be able to regularly fight for points, the Indian team having finished in 4th place in the Manufacturers' Championship last year. The former champion of F3 will evolve in particular within a structure which has a commando spirit which allows it to take advantage of the missteps of the top teams.

The Frenchman will, however, have to quickly get into the rhythm while he still lacks experience against his teammate Sergio Pérez, who has been in the discipline for a while. Additionally, Force India's balance remains precarious and the lack of funding could end up being felt as F1 embarks on new regulations. However, good performances from the Frenchman would allow him to showcase himself to his employers, while the contract of Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes is only valid for this season.

Discover the challenges of the 2017 season in the AUTO F1 Guidehebdo, still available in digital version on all platforms and on kiosks. Esteban Ocon's column can also be found in issue 2106, available in digital version and on newsstands.