Esteban Ocon: "I am very proud to become a Renault driver"
Esteban Ocon says he is "proud to become a Renault driver" after growing up with the team when he was younger. Ocon has been sat inside the Mercedes garage during the 2019 Formula 1 season but will sign for Renault after Valtteri Bottas upped his game.
"First and foremost, I am very proud to become a Renault driver. I have grown up at Enstone, starting with Lotus in 2010 and then with Renault. I am very attached to this team and everyone who works there; they are the ones who opened the doors of top-level motorsport for me," Ocon said.
Renault themselves are pushing to become one of the top teams in Formula 1 after struggling over recent seasons. They're in the middle of a five-year plan to return to the top but have taken a backwards step this year.
Despite that, Ocon is inspired by the ambition the team are showing to lift themselves higher.
"Secondly, I am pleased that a team with big ambitions has entrusted me with the opportunity to once again demonstrate my skills at the highest level of F1. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. The confidence they have in me to help the progression of the team is a very positive pressure and I look forward to giving the best of myself," Ocon added.