At the final round in Austria, Esteban Okon spent his 100th race in Formula 1. The Alpine driver is pleased with the way his career is shaping up and hopes the next 100 races will bring him the world title.
Q: In Austria you spent your hundredth race. What are the feelings?
Esteban Ocon: Unbelievable! Of course, the hundredth stage turned out to be emotional. Honestly, time flies so fast that I didn’t realize how much I had already spent a hundred races. It’s just crazy how far you’ve gone. I am happy and looking forward to the next 100 races.
Q: Which of these hundred races do you remember the most?
Esteban Ocon: Debut stage in Belgium in 2016, third place on the grid in the same Belgium in 2018, first podium in Sakhir in 2020 and first victory in Hungary last year.
Q: Are you satisfied with the progress made this season?
Esteban OconA: Yes, as we have made good progress. The team was not very happy with the form during the winter testing, but since then we have progressed step by step and now we are competing in the top ten in every race.
However, the top is still far away – first of all it is necessary to add stability. When it comes to sheer speed, we can potentially count on placing in the top five.
Q: Are you concerned that the team will have to stop upgrading the car due to impending budget constraints?
Esteban OconA: Of course I’m thinking about it, especially since a lot of teams are raising this issue. But I trust the leadership of the team and I am sure we will succeed.
Q: What are your goals for the next 100 races?
Esteban Ocon: I want to win races and become champions, but I’m not at my peak yet. I don’t feel pressured by time.
Q: Does partner Fernando Alonso help you or does he keep all the secrets to himself?
Esteban Ocon: I hope he learns something from me! We are almost equal and push each other forward. It’s good that we have healthy competition, but at the same time we also have a team spirit that allows Alpine to move forward.
Q: Do you feel an increased pressure because of the upcoming home French Grand Prix?
Esteban Ocon: Of course this is a special race. For the first time in my career I am on the track, one of the stands is named after me. There will be a lot of friends on stage, which is great. I have a busy week ahead of me, but it’s part of the job.
Q: What role did Toto Wolff play in your career?
Esteban OconA: He has been helping me since 2015. Thanks to Toto and Mercedes I have progressed. We still have a very good relationship and I am grateful to him for that.
Q: Will Alpine be the fourth team at the end of the season?
Esteban Ocon: We believe in it and work towards achieving the goal.
Source: F1 News
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
