DOHA: Formula One fans around the world are excited about the prospect of Esteban Ocon returning to front-line driving action for the first time since 2018, but the Frenchman said that the delayed start to the 2020 season has conspired to keep him away from the track.
He was signed to race for Renault F1 Team alongside Daniel Ricciardo in 2020. He made his Formula One debut for Manor Racing in the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix, replacing Rio Haryanto.
Ocon revealed he had adapted his lifestyle entirely to make sure that there wasn’t one last hurdle to his return to Grand Prix racing – a dreaded positive test for coronavirus.
“I’m changing everything – there’s not one single thing that I do the same in my life,” said Ocon. “When I travel or as soon as I go out to get some food at the supermarket or anything, everything’s different.
“It seems like everything is going against me to restart,” Ocon told F1.com during a Renault virtual press conference ahead of the start of the revised season in Austria on July 3-5. “I’m smiling here but I’m crying deep inside.”
After a year on the sidelines as Mercedes’ reserve driver, Ocon then secured the drive with Renault for 2020 – only for the coronavirus outbreak to prevent his racing return in Australia.
“Last year was very difficult. This year, it’s a different feeling because I’m in a great team. I have a great challenge ahead, with a competitive car. I look forward to restart for sure. But having that in mind, you have a target, which is very different to when you’re trying to find a challenge. This season I knew what I was working for, I knew how much I wanted it, and I’m hungry to restart for sure,” added Ocon.
He got reacquainted with F1 machinery during a test of the 2018 Renault at the Red Bull Ring on June 17 – and believes that he’s as prepared as possible for his racing return.
“I felt good, restarting in the car last week,” said Ocon. “It’s been so cool to get back to a real track after spending so much time doing esports – getting back to the real track felt awesome. Going back out of the garage is a special feeling after such a long time. And it didn’t take me long to get back up to pace. I felt good, I felt sharp, I felt quick, so definitely ready to restart next week in Austria.”
