Ocon already flourishing at Haas: "Everyone listens to me with their ears wide open"

It will take us some time to get used to it: like a Lewis Hamilton in Ferrari or Carlos Sainz in Williams, we will have to get used to seeing Esteban Ocon under the colors Haas in 2025, and no longer Alpine. After five seasons spent at enstone, the Frenchman discovers a completely new working environment with the American team, and starts a new chapter in his career in Formula 1. A new and exciting challenge for the 28-year-old Norman, who will have the mission of bringing the American team back among the best teams in the "midfield", this very disputed and competitive middle of the table.

Abruptly dismissed by Alpine Before the last race of the season in 2024, Esteban Ocon had already shown off his new colours during the post-season tests in Abu Dhabi last December, and had taken the wheel of the VF-24 on the Yas Marina circuit. Here, it was on the sidelines of the F1 75 Live ceremony, organised in London to launch the 2025 season, that the Évreux native held his first press conference as a Haas driver.

"It's already an incredible opportunity in my career to be able to embark on a new project like this, to start on a new page. I hope to have a year where I feel like I've gotten the best out of the car, Esteban Ocon said in London on Tuesday:. I really want to feel comfortable and integrate well with the team, know what exactly they expect from me, when. That's the most important thing to start with. Once we've finished testing and are in Melbourne, we'll know more about the performances and we'll hopefully be able to say a little bit more."

A modified steering wheel " in a month and a half" for Ocon

Since his first tests last December, only two months have passed and yet Esteban Ocon already seems to be thriving at Haas. Natural leader of the team alongside the young Oliver Bearman, the Frenchman underlines the attention and responsiveness of the American team with regard to his remarks… and does not fail to take a little shot, indirectly, at his former team in passing.

"There are a lot of different things but a lot of positive. I was able to feel very comfortable right away, underlines Esteban Ocon. Everyone listens to me with their ears wide open. That means the team really wants to put me in a comfortable situation and try to improve. It was super impressive to see the ton of work that went into it. All the things I asked for were implemented. We did a complete redesign of the steering wheel, and it arrived in perfect condition, exactly as I wanted it. These are not things I'm used to. It would have taken eight or ten months elsewhere, here it happened in a month and a half.

Despite this little dig at his former employer, Esteban Ocon, being a good sport, still concluded by having a nice word for Alpine. "I feel good. I'm preparing for my season with Haas. I've turned the page on this chapter Alpine. I wish them the best for the future. It is a team that will always have an important place in my heart. I was proud to be able to give the best results to this team, with the victory and the second place in some races. Now, I am totally focused on my goal with Haas. For his first campaign with Haas, Esteban Ocon hopes to experience a "interesting season", without setting a specific goal. He probably has in mind the ambition of finishing ahead of his former team at the end of the championship…

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