Ocon reveals "it was always the target" in youth days to land Renault F1 seat
F1 News
- Nicolás Quarles van Ufford
New Renault driver Esteban Ocon has revealed it was always his goal in his junior career to get a seat in the French constructor's Formula 1 side, as his relationship with Renault dates back 10 years.
Ocon was on the sidelines for 2019 after losing his Racing Point seat to Lance Stroll, but the young Frenchman will be back this year for Renault, taking the place of Nico Hulkenberg.
When asked how well he knows his new team, Ocon revealed his long history with Renault.
"I know the team very well because I was growing there in my junior career," he told ESPN.
"I didn't go there in 2009, but from 2010 I was there, learning English, training at the factory and going to the factory.
Of course, a lot of people have moved and come in, there are a lot of new people and the factory has completely changed, but it's a team I know very well and this is also why it is great to continue the story from back in the days, because back then the target was always to be in a race seat with that team. So it's kind of emotional."
Ocon will share the garage with Daniel Ricciardo, with the Aussie entering the final year of his deal at the works team.