Esteban Ocon: I want to enjoy the season

In 2024, Esteban Ocon will spend his fifth season as Alpine’s lead driver. In an interview with the team’s press service, the French driver explained the goals he sets for himself in the new season.

Question: How excited are you that the new season will start soon?
Esteban Ocon: I think it goes without saying how excited I am for the start of the new season and can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and hit the track again. This time of year is also exciting as we see the results of the team’s work.

Previously I saw the drawings of the new car, worked on the simulator, but only now I saw it fully assembled. There will still be some running in, but the day of the car’s presentation is the culmination of thousands of hours of hard work.

A driver gets goosebumps when he gets into a new car and pushes the speed limit in the pit lane for the first time. I’ll be doing this soon with the A524 – I can’t wait to get started.

Question: What goals do you set for yourself for 2024?
Esteban Ocon: With 24 races in 2024, everyone in Formula 1 is waiting for a long year. I will try to get the most out of each session. I want to enjoy the season and not regret anything afterwards.

It is necessary to reveal the full potential of the car every weekend on every track – this is what I want to achieve. I’m an experienced racer and I feel like I have all the capabilities for this. Our collective hard work every day on base and on the track makes a difference and I am fully prepared for the challenge.

Q: You’re about to spend your fifth season with Alpine. How much does the team rely on your experience?
Esteban Ocon: I’m really looking forward to my fifth season with the team as lead driver. A good relationship of trust has developed between us, because I have been integrated into the team for a long time. We have achieved continuity and it is great that we will continue our collaboration. This will only make us stronger, not only on days of success, but also in difficult moments.

I’m looking forward to continuing and hoping to achieve good results this season. Of course, moments like the podium in Monaco last year were a great reward for everyone in the team, so our natural aim is to achieve more of these results.

Q: How important is winter training for you, and how was your off-season preparation organized?
Esteban Ocon: My winter training started in December. After all the end-of-year ceremonies are over, I will start training camp and take basic tests just before the Christmas holidays.

At the beginning of the year I immediately start a training program, which I will work on until my trip to Bahrain. This is the only time of year when I can train for many days in a row without a break and build up a physical condition that will stay with me all year long. It is important to maintain energy and health during the busy 24-race season.

An important part of my program is good nutrition and sleep patterns. I also took part in virtual races in Gran Turismo to help me stay focused. This is a great way to train your reaction time in wheel-to-wheel racing and maintain a racing mentality.