Behind the Helmet: Esteban Ocon

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/6KVX6ArcnYg

Basic Information

Esteban Ocon is a French Formula One™ driver, born in Evreux, France on September 17, 1996.

Early Life and Background

Esteban was born to Sabrine Khelfane and Laurent Ocon. His father was a mechanic, owning a garage in Evreux. Though his parents weren’t part of the racing world, they supported their son’s dream, selling their family home and business, living in a van to support his karting career. Unlike many other drivers, his family wasn’t rich, coming from a working class.

Career Beginnings

Ocon started karting in 2006. He won the Minime class of the French Championship in and the Cadet class in 2008. Up to 2011, he was karting. In 2012 he made his debut in single-seater racing, going into the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0™. From 2013 to 2015 he took part in Formula 3™, GP3, and DTM. In 2016 he continued to race in DTM while being a Formula One™ reserve driver for Renault F1 Team.

Debut Season

In 2016 at the Belgian Grand Prix™, Ocon made his debut with Manor Racing. Finish the remainder of the season with zero points, he got placed in 23rd for the drivers’ championship, being second to last.

Teams and Transfers

Ocon has raced for 3 teams, one of them as a reserve driver, and one that hasn’t been renamed multiple times. The first team he competed with was Manor in 2016. In 2017 he moved over to Force India driving for them in the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2019 he became Mercedes reserve driver. In 2020 he moved over to Renault and stayed with the team through the rebrand to Alpine, being with Alpine from 2021 to the present day.

Career Achievements

In 2021 with the Alpine F1 Team, Ocon earned his first F1 win at the Hungarian Grand Prix™, also his last win. His win was also the first win for the rebranded Alpine team. His maiden podium took place in 2020 at the Sakhir Grand Prix™. Esteban Ocon has 1 win, 3 podiums, and 422 points throughout his career.

Rivalries

Ocon has a rivalry with Verstappen, since their karting days, and has a rivalry with his teammate, Pierre Gasly. Ocon and Gasly have a difficult past but manage to put it aside, wanting the best for the team.

Driving Style

It is said that Ocon has a smooth driving style, like former F1 driver, Alain Prost.

Notable Races and Moments

The most notable race was the Hungarian Grand Prix™ of 2021, where he won his first maiden victory, it being the team’s as well since their rebranding. Another notable race was the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix™ where he earned his maiden podium, coming in second place.

Records and Milestones

A negative record that Ocon holds, is the most penalties in a single race, with five penalties during the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix™. He had broken his previous record of this, which also occurred 2023 season, with three penalties at the Bahrain Grand Prix™.

Personality and Off-Track Life

He’s friendly, passionate, confident, and can be a bit funny and witty. He is into other sports like cycling, tennis, and padel. He also spends his time with family and friends. Recently Ocon has commented on how starting December 17, 2023, he’s going to get back into training, and then starting January 2, 2024, he’ll be focusing on racing and only racing, going into “war mode.”

Fanbase

His fans are in France, his home country, and anywhere that Alpine is popular, including the UK, which is the Alpine F1 Team’s home race. He has 2.2 million followers on his Instagram.

Sponsorships and Branding

Esteban Ocon is sponsored by brands such as Castrol, Infiniti, Mapfre, Microsoft BP Ultimate, and Bell & Ross. His logo is EO31, written together with the letters and numbers touching. He also has another logo of his initials, written out. His 2023 season helmet was red with black and had white accents for logos of the team, his brand, and sponsors.

Charitable Work

Ocon has taken part in helping charity multiple times and has raised lots of money for different organizations. He takes part in being a patron for Racing Against Dementia. This year in February (2023) he and Alpine raffled his 2022 season French GP™ helmet, to raise funds for terminally ill children.

Career Challenges

His challenges have occurred due to the liveries he has driven, and mechanical issues within those liveries. These issues cause him to DNF or to not make it into the points, resulting in a bad season.

Quotes and Interviews

• “On one side, it was very cool to drive around the iconic Las Vegas streets for the first time today, and on the other, an unfortunate and premature end to the first practice session.” (Las Vegas 2023).

• “I don’t need luck, I have skill. And a reliable engine would be nice too.”

• “We have known each other very well for several years,” Ocon said. “The first time he rode in a kart, it was mine. We drove together on the same circuits, the same competitions… We had a dream: to drive together in F1, we succeeded. I am excited to begin.” (About Pierre Gasly becoming his teammate at Alpine).

Future Prospects

Just like other drivers, prospects are to grow and get better in this career.

Trivia and Fun Facts

• In 2014 he won the FIA Formula 3 European Championship™ with three races to spare.

• Ocon has been using his racing number, 31, since his karting days.

• Esteban was one of the two drivers who celebrated their birthday on a race Sunday in the 2023 season, the second being Lance Stroll.

Legacy in F1

He’s become part of the legacy for the Alpine F1 team when winning the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix™ earning his and the team’s maiden victory. In Formula One™ he is one of those racers that people who want to race, but don’t have a lot of money, look up to, since he didn’t grow up with a rich family, and instead grew up with a family that was part of the working class.

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