The physical focus bringing out the best of an F1 midfield star

As the silver Mercedes of Lewis Hamilton filled his mirrors through the spray and gloom at Suzuka, Esteban Ocon knew he had a fight on his hands. From far back, the seven-time world champion would appear on the inside line at the hairpin, trying to spook Ocon into a mistake. The younger man neatly dodged the attack, making a wider line work to cut Hamilton off at the exit, only to face another assault moments later at the Spoon – where he again held his nerve and left the draggy Mercedes trailing.

This dance continued for lap after lap as Ocon stubbornly kept Hamilton at bay until the chequered flag. It may have only been for fourth, and it was relatively brief owing to the circumstance of the race – a 40-minute sprint following a rain-induced hiatus – yet it was a deeply impressive display from a driver who is standing out in Formula 1’s congested midfield.

It’s warmer and drier in Austin when GP Racing sits down with Ocon but, while enough time has passed for the initial post-race buzz to pass and for him to put the weekend in perspective, he’s still delighted to be complimented on his achievement and declares it “probably one of the best” performances of his F1 career – a list which achieves a grand prix win.

“In a long race, it would probably have been more tricky to keep Lewis behind,” he says, “I knew it was a sprint, we would get a shot at it, which is why I defended so hard.”

Suzuka stands as the high point of what Ocon feels is his most complete season to date in F1. It might have lacked the peak of his shock Hungary victory last year, but he has more points finishes to his name, rekindling some of the consistency that made him such a force in junior categories and his early F1 career.

“I feel I’ve taken a step,” Ocon says. “I was driving at a very good level last year, but I’m just feeling more at home. It has been one of my best seasons. Probably the best season so far.”

Looking from the outside, you could argue that not a lot has appeared to change about Ocon this year. His status as a grand prix winner hasn’t turned him into a diva, not that he ever seemed predisposed to do such. Prior to their sprint race clashes in Brazil, there had been no great friction with Alpine team-mate Fernando Alonso, although both drivers dismissed the need for any talks about their rankling, owing it to the heat of the moment.

Keeping a charging Hamilton behind him in the Japanese GP stands out as Ocon's season highlight

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

But those close to Ocon have noticed a definite change in the past year. He now has more of a support team around him to help him focus on the driving side during race weekends, and he’s begun to expand his interests beyond F1; in October he appeared at the Ballon d’Or ceremony crowning the world’s best footballer. While it’s not on the scale of Hamilton’s burgeoning portfolio of outside interests, it’s made Ocon more well-rounded; not just an F1 driver.

Ocon has also dug even deeper in his physical preparations. He’s been working with a new trainer, Tom Clark, since 2021, and lives closer to his training facilities. He says now he’s essentially doing a training camp between races, instead of just one every few months.

“Even if you don’t see it, I’m managing to pick up more weight, I’m stronger physically,” says Ocon. “That contributes to my wellbeing. I’m feeling strong. At the end of a race, I feel I could do two or three race distances and I wouldn’t be tired.”

In their two years together Alonso was outscored by Ocon 166 points to 162, making the Frenchman the first team-mate to enjoy a superior overall record against Alonso since Hamilton in 2007

Attending to these details has been a contributing factor to Ocon’s on-track gains in broader terms than race-day strength and stamina, he believes. It’s given him greater confidence for starts and the opening lap, as well as maximising his performance on Saturdays.

“I’m finding that rhythm again,” he says. “Qualifying has been great too. I’ve managed to get 100% out of the car at quite a few races, more than previously, more than I remember.”

Ocon might have ended his formal ties with Mercedes when he joined Alpine for 2020, but there are still management links in a relationship that is “dormant”, according to Toto Wolff, who has also been impressed by his consistency this year.

“Fernando is very quick, and you can see that in qualifying, but then Esteban is always there,” says Wolff. “He always picks up the points, and that is why he has this solid advantage. It was the same in GP3 and Formula 3. That’s what it’s all about.”

A look at the points would suggest these gains have led to Ocon emerging as a potential team leader at Alpine; indeed, he outscored the two-time world champion on the other side of the garage 92-81 in 2022. Alonso has been known throughout his career for quickly gaining the alpha status over his team-mates, yet things have been different with Ocon. In fact, in their two years together Alonso was outscored by Ocon 166 points to 162, making the Frenchman the first team-mate to enjoy a superior overall record against Alonso since Hamilton in 2007.

Ocon refused to roll over and be beaten by Alonso, who heads to Aston Martin next year. Their partnership hit a sour tone when they clashed in the Brazilian GP sprint race

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

The Hamilton comparison is one Ocon has made himself, claiming only seven-time world champion Hamilton had done a better job as a team-mate to Alonso. This sparked Jenson Button, Alonso’s team-mate through two miserable years at McLaren 2015 and 2016, to reply on Twitter: “I will have to disagree.”

In contrast to the general tenor of social media discourse, Ocon reached out to Button after seeing this riposte. He wanted to be clear he hadn’t made the comparison with the intention of causing offence.

“We talked, it was funny,” says Ocon. “I didn’t necessarily remember, but one of the years, he did extremely well.” Button outscored Alonso 16-11 in 2015, but was defeated 54-21 the following year before hanging up his helmet.

Alonso has always been gracious about Ocon’s role as his team-mate, particularly in helping him to get up to speed in early 2021 when the Spaniard was making his F1 comeback. But when GP Racing broaches the subject of Ocon’s Hamilton comments with Alonso, he smirks. The topic of his points tally this year remains a sore one, and perhaps rightly so given the number of incidents that have cost him scores this year. Such nuances remain invisible in a bald comparison of overall points.

“Last year, it was very close, especially the beginning of the year,” says Alonso. “He was faster in quali, in the race and everything. This year, I think I may have a different opinion. It has been one of my best seasons. But the standings will never say that and I will probably finish behind.”

If relations have been largely harmonious between the drivers at Alpine this year, it’s not necessarily a given that they will remain so in 2023. Having lost Alonso to Aston Martin and putative Alonso replacement Oscar Piastri to McLaren, Alpine has turned to another French race winner: Pierre Gasly. This is a fascinating development since it’s long been understood that Gasly and Ocon don’t get on – to the extent that in recent years they’ve even cropped each other out of photos posted to their Instagram accounts.

Back in their early karting days, they were extremely close. The first time Gasly got behind the wheel was in Ocon’s go-kart, while their families would help each other as both boys dreamed of a career in F1. The causes of the schism are rumoured, if not really known, and appear to stem from their early teenage years. Both have been adamant their relationship has improved with time in F1.

The Gasly and Ocon dynamic at Alpine from next season will be a fascinating watch

Photo by: Alpine

Ocon laughs when asked if he finds the continued questions about his relationship with Gasly annoying.

“It is a bit, because there’s really no huge drama [with Pierre Gasly],” he says. “I understand you guys would like more drama, because you have some articles to write! But no, there is none of that. The important thing for us is to work together, to get that car to win. Once we get that car there, it’s up to the best [driver] to win. We need to get there first.”

Ocon doubts Gasly will need much help getting up to speed.

“He’s very experienced, he’s driven for different teams, he’s driven a lot in testing also prior to that,” says Ocon.

The two are spookily well-matched for stats: each has one win, Gasly is ahead on podiums 2-1, but trails for points 351-333. These are very fine margins, pointing to it being one of the most well-balanced line-ups on the grid without an evident team leader.

"When I finish my career, I don’t want any regrets, to say ‘maybe if I did do that, that could have brought me to a higher place.’ That’s not something I want" Esteban Ocon

The story of how two young kids from Normandy with a dream could one day become team-mates for a French team has been repeated often, but it’s a good hook. The French connection is one Alpine has leaned heavily on since rebranding from Renault for 2021. Now with two French drivers, the team can go all out on that front.

There is also more stability than before at Alpine. It has clearly got a good grip on the new regulations, evidenced by its development path which has made it the fourth-fastest team. It will stick with the car concept for next year, placing focus on getting to the weight limit. Ocon’s first impression of Alpine’s 2023 car in the simulator is also very positive.

“It was very encouraging, and incredibly fast I would say,” he adds. “OK, so far it’s only simulations, but it feels good.”

Alpine has progressed up the F1 pecking order, seeing off McLaren to finish fourth in 2022, leaving Ocon upbeat about his future

Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images

But at the top, there is now also certainty. And all signs point to this being the first winter for several years which will pass without some form of management restructure, following the rotating door of senior management at the team, including Cyril Abiteboul, Marcin Budkowski, technical director Nick Chester, and even former Renault Group top dog and double bass escape artist Carlos Ghosn. Ocon also points out that it’s a very different scene from his first visit to Enstone in 2010, back when Eric Boullier was in charge.

“It’s crazy, I’ve seen a lot of change,” says Ocon. But he expresses his faith in the stability now offered by team principal Otmar Szafnauer – who called Ocon’s Suzuka efforts “world class” – as well as Alpine CEO Laurent Rossi and Renault chief Luca de Meo, whom he sees as real racers. “We are settled, we have great leadership with Otmar, Laurent and Luca,” he adds. “It’s a fantastic team. I definitely feel more relaxed.”

Alpine has been clear from day one that Ocon is a key part of its long-term future. Its decision to give him a deal running to the end of 2024 after his performances last year was proof of that. But it’s also helping to bring the best out of Ocon. He’s feeling relaxed and stable, physically better than ever, and is liking the early signs from the 2023 car. It’s all shaping up well.

The goal now for Alpine will be to take things to the next level. As the budget cap bites and the advantage of the ‘big three’ becomes less pronounced, it should open more opportunities for Ocon to make good on the talent that enabled him to defeat Max Verstappen in F3 and star throughout his junior career despite his struggles for funding.

The prospect of it all coming together so he can fight at the front is something Ocon says is “nice on paper, but we need to get there.” He’s a realist who knows all he can do is put in the hard work to try and ensure the wins and championships will then follow.

“That’s why I say keep your feet on the ground, keep working, see what’s going to get us there,” he says. “But it’s my aim, yeah, it’s what I believe I can do. And I’m not counting the work that I’m putting in. Every week I’m back at the factory.”

We might think of Ocon as a young driver but he’s already beginning to joke about “getting old” at the age of 26, given he’s into triple figures for grand prix starts. For now he might be confining himself to speaking in jest about this but, as our conversation concludes, he throws forward to the (presumably distant) moment he does hang up his helmet, and a promise he has made to himself. Fittingly for a proudly French F1 driver, there is a touch of Édith Piaf about the sentiment.

“When I finish my career, I don’t want any regrets,” Ocon says, “to say ‘maybe if I did do that, that could have brought me to a higher place.’ That’s not something I want. It’s all down to me. That’s what I want to achieve.”

Ocon has a huge opportunity to make himself team leader at Alpine

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images