Ocon confident of returning to F1 as a complete driver
Ocon confident of returning to F1 as a complete driver
Esteban Ocon says he will return to Formula 1 as a "more complete driver" as a result of his year spent in reserve for Mercedes.
A recent report in AutoBild suggested that Ocon will be back on the grid in 2020 with Renault, with Mercedes set to keep faith with Valtteri Bottas for a fourth year in succession.
Renault pulling out of a deal for Ocon this time last year led to the Frenchman being pushed to the fringes of the sport.
Ocon admits that his determination to attend race weekends, as well as assist Mercedes in their simulator in the UK, has cost him several hours of sleep, but he believes it will be worth it.
"I insisted I wanted to be at the track," he told Formula 1s official website. "I don't want to be working at the sim and not come over.
"The guys said yeah, it's going to be hard. I said yeah I agree but that's the way I want to do it. Even if I don't sleep, I want to be at the track.
"It's hard. It's definitely hard. But it's alright. There's much worse in life."
Ocon added: "I'm working hard on next year. I'm also learning so much at Mercedes. When I come back, I'll be a much more complete driver."
With a decision on Ocon's future potentially imminent, it would end a long spell of uncertainty for one of F1's top young talents.
He said: "It was not an easy thing. We talked with Toto and my management side in Mercedes and they told me not to worry, I would be having a chance in F1 in the future.
"Of course there were phases where it is a bit quiet so you doubt things a bit, but discussions started quite some time ago – so I'm pretty confident it's going to be OK, fingers crossed and touching wood!"
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Stats show SURPRISE F1 team dominate in crucial category
- 23 minutes ago
Schumacher reveals what F1 pundits are NOT allowed to say about Red Bull
- 1 hour ago
Hamilton struggles pinned on Mercedes by team's OWN driver
- 2 hours ago
Verstappen issues MAYHEM warning to F1 bosses
- 3 hours ago
Ferrari announce HUGE F1 change to iconic red livery
- 3 hours ago
F1 News Today: Hamilton and Verstappen rivalry takes SHOCK twist as F1 team 'set to announce' mega signing
- Today 05:57
Related news
F1 star predicts shock world championship bid
F1 star calls in sick ahead of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Nico Hulkenberg in 'rear-end' jab to Esteban Ocon
F1 star makes major retirement claim
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860