Esteban Ocon ready for his F1 debut at Spa-Francorchamps

Starting a career in F1 on a track like Spa-Francorchamps can only lead to making comparisons with another driver who debuted here, a certain Michael Schumacher in 1991.

The comparison is all the more poignant with Esteban Ocon because the seven-time world champion was the young Frenchman’s idol. He has thus adopted the Red Baron’s color scheme for his own helmet: “Michael was my idol when I was young. He is a great champion. If I can have just half of his career, I will already be very happy.”

Similarly, he does not add any extra pressure by joining the same team as Pascal Wehrlein, another Mercedes protégé. While the comparison between the two men is inevitable, Esteban Ocon knows he has to work hard to match the level of his new teammate: “Pascal is a very good driver. He knows the team very well, he has been here since the beginning of the year. But I clearly want to be at the level quickly because I do not intend to stay at the back.”

The native of Evreux indicates that his reference in F1 is not his teammate but Max Verstappen, whom he had clearly dominated during their Formula 3 season: “I know I’ve already beaten him. He is not the toughest opponent I’ve had, but he did very well in his F1 debut. So he can only be a reference for me.”

When asked about the toughest driver he has faced, he mentions another F1 driver: “Daniil Kvyat! He was my teammate during my first session in single-seaters and he was very impressive (champion in Formula Renault 2.0 ALPS and vice-champion in FR 2.0 Eurocup).” Considering the history between the two men, who have exchanged their F1 seats since the Spanish Grand Prix, the comparison is quite intriguing.

The reigning GP3 champion took advantage of the summer break to fine-tune his preparation: « I only took a short week of vacation. But I went to the factory twice to be with the team. For the rest, I kept my usual preparation routine because it has always worked for me in the past. »

If he traveled to England, it’s because it’s crucial for him to find a good position in his seat, especially since he is much taller than his competitors. In the past, he sometimes failed FIA extraction tests due to his height, but he managed to find a good position in his Manor: « I’m very comfortable. I’m ready. »

All that remains is for him to translate this optimism onto the track.

From our correspondent at Spa-Francorchamps

With the participation of www.racingbusiness.fr