The day of glory has arrived for Esteban Ocon

Bookmakers certainly didn’t lose much money this weekend, with this unlikely podium of Ocon-Hamilton-Sainz (once we take into account the disqualification of Sebastian Vettel).

For the French driver, everything was decided from the first turn. After the carnage caused by Valtteri Bottas and Lance Stroll, the Alpine driver dove inside to go from eighth place on the grid to second. Then, Mercedes’ strategic error of not pitting Lewis Hamilton allowed him to take the lead of the race for the first time in his career.

But then he had to resist throughout the race the constant pressure from Sebastian Vettel, just as motivated to bring Aston Martin’s first win in F1: « Winner of a Formula 1 Grand Prix… It’s incredible and I still find it hard to believe. What a moment, come on Blues! It was a crazy race from start to finish. There were a lot of decisions to make and the team made the right choices, not to mention everyone’s work during this superb pit stop that was crucial to staying ahead of Sebastian. I was happy to manage my pace in the lead as best as I could and everything went well. »

For the native of Evreux, this victory also tastes like revenge, as he has struggled so much to reach this level. Far from the family fortunes that many of his competitors on the track have enjoyed, Esteban Ocon had to make his own way through sheer determination. His European Formula 3 title, well ahead of a certain Max Verstappen in 2014, opened the doors to F1 for him through the Lotus young driver program.

The following year, he confirmed all the good things one could think of him by winning the title in the GP3 Series, notably thanks to an incredible series of nine consecutive second places. In total, he then achieved 14 podium finishes in 18 races. But above all, he was able to join the Mercedes program, under the leadership of Toto Wolff, as Lotus sank into financial difficulties and was no longer able to support the progression of the young driver.

It is then a mixed period that opens up for the driver: without a program in GP2, he finds himself in DTM, still at ART Grand Prix, but the results are not there. The light comes during the season when Manor allows him to make his debut in F1 from the Belgian Grand Prix. He proves to be better than his teammate, Pascal Wehrlein, also backed by Mercedes.

This proves to be decisive in enabling him to move up within Force India for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He is proving to be reliable and consistent there, even if living with Sergio Perez creates some sparks and clashes. But as life is definitely not a smooth and quiet ride for Esteban Ocon, he finds himself sidelined for 2019 when Force India is bought by Lawrence Stroll, who puts his son Lance there.

While a gap year is often irreversible, the Frenchman persists and multiplies nighttime simulator sessions for Mercedes to help the team prepare for race weekends.

This dedication is finally rewarded when Toto Wolff agrees to lend his driver to Renault, who makes him a regular driver for two years, with an option for two additional years. At Enstone, he again finds a top-notch teammate in Daniel Ricciardo, who announced his departure from the team early. While the Australian scores two podium finishes, the Frenchman shines during the crazy Sakhir race to step onto his first F1 podium.

A very good start to the 2021 season, alongside the formidable veteran Fernando Alonso, convinces Alpine to offer him a three-year contract, which allows him to have an unprecedented peace of mind in his career. Yet it is at this moment that the results begin to decline. At Silverstone, the team decides to change his chassis, which pays off as the Frenchman finds his way back to scoring points.

Then came Budapest and its incredible scenario. Esteban Ocon seized the opportunity, did not crack under pressure, and joined the restricted ranks of Grand Prix winners. His teammate didn’t fail to highlight the parallel between the two men: “Our story is enriched on this track: I had achieved my first success with Renault here in 2003, and now it’s Esteban’s turn with Alpine in 2021. I am so happy for him and the entire team. Luck has sometimes eluded us, but everything went well today, and we must maximize these opportunities. We can execute our races to perfection if success is on our side. We have had ups and downs, but we can look to the future to repeat our past successes. It’s a great source of motivation, and we can approach the summer break with a smile.”

There is no doubt that the smile has not left Esteban Ocon’s face since yesterday afternoon…