Inside Ocon's first day at Renault

When you first meet him, you think Esteban Ocon hails from the deep south of France. There's the tanned skin, the sheer intense wiriness of him, and of course the name Esteban: suggesting the dramatic landscape of the Pyrenees, with its colours and flavours that link France and Spain from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean.

In reality, he's from the opposite end of the country - born to a family with Spanish roots - 
in the Norman town of Evreux, which is closer to Enstone in England (555km) than it is to the border with Spain (around 850km). Viry-Chatillon, the Renault F1 team's other base, is a mere 120km away.

So, it's an Anglo-French marriage made in heaven - but only after a long courtship. Ocon, don't forget, was a Renault test driver in 2016. His earliest steps in car racing were in Formula Renault (in 2012), and he first drove an F1 car during a grand prix weekend for 'Team Enstone' in 2014, when it was Lotus - taking part in free practice at the Abu Dhabi GP.

Five years later, aged 23, Esteban was back in Abu Dhabi: as a proper F1 driver for the first time in a year, having spent a season in the grey shadows. The grey of Mercedes, of course, so it was hardly an exile - but still nothing compared with being a regular driver. He's done some tyre tests for Mercedes, which he says were more enjoyable than attending grand prix weekends with the team because "at least I didn't have to watch the others race".

But after being usurped by Lance Stroll from Racing Point the end of 2018, Esteban never lost focus on getting back. He was widely linked with the second Mercedes drive for 2020, before his two-year Renault deal was confirmed at the end of August.

It wasn't until December, though, that he finally got to climb into the car - or even wear yellow - at the Abu Dhabi post-season test. Up until the day before, he hadn't even been allowed in the garage...

When the big day finally comes, on December 3, he has a new hat to add to his collection as well. "It's my first day, say hi!" is written garishly on his head, courtesy of a cap that looked like it was purloined from a Walmart new starter.

"It's something the guys at the factory made for me; cool isn't it?" says Ocon, who is actually far prouder of the cap than he let on. Because it isn't 
just a contrived PR stunt: it's a genuine sign of affection from a team that is delighted to have a French driver back in its midst.

The feeling is mutual. "I've been waiting for this moment for months: it feels so good to be back. I've had a really warm welcome, and I'm seeing some familiar faces again as well as getting to know some new ones."

For a (non-French) outsider, the way of doing things in any French organisation is either civilised or plain anachronistic, depending on your outlook. On arrival every morning, each man shakes every other man's hand with a bonjour and a pleasantry. Women are kissed - on both cheeks. If there are a lot of people to get through, 
a wedding reception-like queue can form. It's time-consuming, but it's considered to be the height of rudeness to miss anyone out.

Esteban knows the drill well; he's an expert in fact. He smilingly works his way through everyone when he arrives at the Renault hospitality in Yas Marina, taking his time with each person - because his first stated aim of the Abu Dhabi test is not to get to know the car, but to put "80%" of names to faces.

That's not a straightforward task. Renault has changed a lot over the past two years, helped by a tranche of investment and some big new signings: notably Daniel Ricciardo. "It's definitely a bigger and more rounded team than when I left," says Ocon.

Ricciardo had it largely his own way in 2019, which was one of the factors that led to Nico Hulkenberg's departure. What's it going to be like for the Australian against Ocon? For all of Ocon's youthful charm, his relations with team-mates and other drivers haven't always been smooth. At the 2018 Brazilian GP he was involved in a shoving match with Max Verstappen, and there was little love lost between Esteban and Sergio Perez at Force India. When the topic comes up, Ocon smiles like a grinning assassin. "I don't know Daniel all that well," he says. "But I'm sure we'll have the chance to talk and get to know each other. He seems a cool guy."

For now, Ocon is here to learn about the car. So as soon as 9am rolls around he's into the pit lane bang on the green light, determined to rack up as many laps as possible. "I haven't driven much this year and testing next year is even more limited, so it's as important to do as many laps as possible during these two days," he explains, later.

Ocon is on the pace immediately, but not spectacularly so. After about half a race distance it's clear he has a slight problem with his seat: something that's affected him before on account of his height (6ft 1in). "I'm a bit more comfortable in the Renault than I was in the Mercedes though, as both Daniel and Nico are taller than Lewis and Valtteri," Ocon points out. "I also managed a day in the simulator at Enstone before coming here, which helped."

Esteban is back out again in the afternoon and completes a trouble-free run the following day (the only driver to drive both days of the test in the same car) to end with 205 laps and the 10th fastest time overall. But you can never read too much into testing. Instead, this is all about re-immersing himself in the F1 environment.

"We've started to work on all the details now," says Ocon, after his second day in the car. "Towards the afternoon I started to get closer to the limit. There were some important details cleared on my side and we identified areas we need to work on."

He doesn't say how the Renault feels compared with the Mercedes he's driven in 2019: he's too savvy for that. "You learn certain things of course, but you need to know where the limit is in terms of what you pass on from one team to another," he explains. "It's a question of professionalism as much as respect."

But the grin as he alights the RS19 can't be faked. He likes it, and likes being back: no question about it. He even reckons the second day (when he covered 128 laps) was worth two days, as so much got done.

So far so good. But this is just the honeymoon. After several years of living together, will married life be just as exciting?