Ocon believes he has not yet regained his 2018 level

After 5 race weekends in 2020, the first assessment of the return ofEsteban Ocon full-time on the grid is solid and serious… without being sparkling. Except in the rain in Austria during the Styrian Grand Prix, the Frenchman has never managed to get ahead of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in qualifying but he has 16 points on the clock, only 4 points less than the talented Australian. With a 6th place at the British GP as best result.

The last weekend of competition at Silverstone sums up the Normandy's start to the season quite well with a modest 11th time on Saturday, becoming 14th place on the grid the next day due to a penalty, but a pugnacious and determined climb back to the points race. 

« I'm convinced there's a lot more performance to unlock, confided Ocon ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix. I don't feel like I've yet reached my level at the end of 2018. I feel like I can improve in certain areas. We are on the right path. We have to sort out the issues in qualifying. As soon as this is done, we will be able to really capitalize in the race. 

I expected this comeback to be more difficult in fact, I'm quite satisfied with my start to the season. I scored points and entered Q3 regularly. I was 5th on the grid in Austria the 2nd weekend. It's a good start but I still want more ». 

After his debut at Manor in mid-2016 then a pair of seasons with Force India, Ocon experienced the 2019 campaign on the sidelines and in the simulator Mercedes where he spent countless hours helping to optimize the settings of the double-titled W10.

His teammate Ricciardo thinks that the native of Évreux has the weapons to win at Renault. 

« He knows he has the speed even if he feels like he's not at his peak., confided Australia. I saw his potential. I'm going to leave at the end of the season (at the house of McLaren, Editor’s note) and I think he will be able to take over and assume many responsibilities, while working intelligently with his new teammate, who is even older than me (Laughter) ».

Remember that Ocon will have to coexist with Fernando Alonso, back in F1 with a multi-year contract at Renault in his pocket. But one thing at a time.