How Ocon spent his year in the shadows
After losing his seat at Racing Point, Esteban Ocon landed back at Mercedes as the team's reserve driver. But not for him the chance to simply kick back in team clobber. He's been pulling all-nighters in the sim to help his team move forward while remaining resolutely focused on the return to the grid that he's now secured - as he explained to JAMES ROBERTS
Anyone who sets their alarm for 3.50am deserves sympathy. Doubly so if they only managed to get to sleep at 3.20am. But this is a typical Friday night for Mercedes' main man on the sidelines: Esteban Ocon.
For the European races the Mercedes reserve driver spends his Friday evenings at the team's Brackley simulator, regularly clocking up more than 1000km. Once finished, he's whisked to the airport to board the first flight to wherever on the continent that weekend's grand prix is taking place.
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