Ocon sets the bar high for 2020: "I want to stand on the podium"
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
After watching on from the sidelines for a year as Mercedes reserve driver, Esteban Ocon is now fired up to get big results for his new team in Renault, with the Frenchman targeting a podium finish in 2020.
Ocon is still under contract as a Mercedes driver and has been for several years now, but he hasn't managed to land a seat at the Silver Arrows' F1 team yet. Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas have occupied the two seats at the team for the past three seasons and will do so again next year.
However, Ocon isn't disappointed with this. On the contrary, he's proud to be driving for a French works team.
"I'm driving for a French team now with big ambitions to get back to the top in a few years," the 23-year-old told RMC.
"It's not disappointing at all, it's a relief."
Ocon, who drove two full seasons in F1 after making his debut at the 2016 Belgian Grand Prix, is taking the place of Nico Hulkenberg at Renault to partner up with Daniel Ricciardo.
The duo finished 2019 in fifth place in the constructors' championship - a disappointing finish after a promising 2018.
Renault's ambition is to be better than last season," Ocon continued.
"We clearly didn't perform well enough this year, it's not our ambition to be fifth. My personal goal is to stand on the podium during next season. After that, we have to develop a car to close the gap to the top three teams."
Ricciardo came as close as Renault have come since their return as a constructor to a podium at the Italian Grand Prix in 2019, finishing fourth.