Esteban Ocon, a former winner in Formula 1, has had a captivating career in the sport. Known for his aggressive driving style, Ocon is currently in his final season with Alpine and recently shared his thoughts on the naturally talented drivers in the current grid.
During his junior racing days, Ocon competed against the likes of Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, giving him valuable insight into their abilities. According to Ocon, both Leclerc and Verstappen possess exceptional natural talent. Verstappen, who has already secured three world championships, and Leclerc, a five-time Grand Prix winner, stand out among their peers.
When asked about the most talented driver in F1 at the moment, Ocon replied, “Apart from you, I believe it is Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. I have raced against Charles since 2005 and Max since 2010, and regardless of the conditions, we have always been neck and neck or in the top 3.”
Ocon has long desired a seat in one of the top teams, such as Mercedes. Despite proving himself as a highly competent midfield driver, his 2024 campaign has not started off well. Alpine currently finds itself as the slowest team on the grid, lagging behind Haas and Stake.
Acknowledging the issues with the A524, Ocon remains hopeful that Alpine can make progress. At the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he showed glimpses of promise by executing impressive moves. However, the poor performance of the A524 ultimately hindered his progress, causing him to slip backward.
Alpine had a forgettable outing at last year’s Australian GP, where both Ocon and Pierre Gasly crashed out. With these past incidents and the ongoing problems faced by Alpine, all eyes will be on the French team in the upcoming race weekend.