Esteban Ocon: The coming weeks will be exciting

Esteban Ocon could have earned points in the final stage in Singapore, but dropped out due to technical problems with the car. The Alpine driver hopes for a more successful result in the upcoming Japanese Grand Prix.

Question: How do you rate the race weekend in Singapore?
Esteban Ocon: I’m still disappointed with the way Sunday’s race ended, so now I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel again in Suzuka. I guess you could say we had a strong weekend before the retreat. I felt comfortable in the car since Friday’s practice and managed to improve in qualifying and reach the final.

The race also went well and with two cars we scored a lot of points. There were a lot of positives this weekend, so we want to keep the momentum going in Japan and earn points with two cars.

Q: What is your and the team’s mood for the last quarter of the season?
Esteban Ocon: The next few weeks will be busy with a lot of racing. It is important to stay focused and keep working to finish the season with strong results.

We don’t think about the big picture, but approach each race individually. It’s no secret that this season has had many ups and downs, but we have to keep working to get consistency and the best out of the car every weekend and seize opportunities with both hands.

Question: What makes Suzuka so popular?
Esteban Ocon: I really like Suzuka. For me this stage is one of the best of the season. The circuit is smooth and fun to drive. We have seen in recent years that it is not as easy to overtake here compared to other circuits, but the racing is still interesting. Riders must quickly find a rhythm, especially in the “esques” of the first sector. Once this is achieved, lap times improve and it becomes really fun to drive.

Last year I achieved an excellent result and finished fourth. Now I’m looking forward to racing in front of the passionate Japanese fans, for whom coming to the track is also a great experience.