Ocon uses Verstappen as an example: 'I have to believe I can do that too'

Esteban Ocon is in his seventh active season in Formula 1. The Frenchman worked his way up from Manor and is now a key man within Alpine. Ocon won in all categories before F1 and is still convinced he can also win at the top level of motorsport. For Max Verstappen to win now is just a confirmation of his feelings.

Ocon in duel with Verstappen

Ocon showed early in his career that he has talent in a kart. The story is familiar. Unlike many other drivers, Ocon didn't have parents who could splash money around, but his parents gave up everything for him, and the motorhome in which they crossed Europe became their home. It all paid off when Ocon was picked up by Renault.

In karting, Ocon won almost everything (except the world title, which was won by the one-year younger driver Verstappen) and in formula cars, Ocon continued that streak. The Frenchman immediately won races in the Eurocup Formula Renault, and in 2014, he won the European Formula 3 championship. The frustrating thing for Ocon was that he didn't make the switch to Formula 1, but the championship's number three did: Verstappen.

"I've always believed that if you work hard enough, your time will come. I still believe in that. I've had many moments in my career when things didn't go my way. When I won the F3 title, Max [Verstappen] stepped up to F1, and I didn't have the chance to do that. I thought, let's just focus on myself, keep going, do a good job and get the results," Ocon said in a conversation with GPblog.

When Ocon got the chance in F1

Ocon did continue that trajectory and won the GP3 championship in 2015. Still, it wasn't enough for a place in F1, and Ocon moved to DTM. Under the wings of Mercedes, Ocon stood out, and when Rio Haryanto's money ran out, he finally got a chance in F1. Halfway through the season, he joined Manor. Alongside Pascal Wehrlein, Ocon performed well and impressed the engineers and mechanics. When Force India needed a replacement for the departed Nico Hulkenberg, they all pointed to Ocon. Perhaps younger and not yet as fast as Pascal, but much better to work with.

Ocon drove two seasons at Force India but already felt the pinch in year two. The team was failing financially, and Sergio Perez helped the team take over from Lawrence Stroll. Although Ocon's performance improved compared to the Mexican, Ocon had to leave for the new boss's son, Lance Stroll.

Toto Wolff made a case for Ocon, but the Frenchman again missed out. A deal with Renault seemed all but done, but out of nowhere, Daniel Ricciardo became available, and Cyril Abiteboul stepped in. Ocon was sidelined for a year. At Mercedes, Ocon learned from Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, but driving himself was the priority. The seat at Renault came a year later, this time alongside Ricciardo.

Ocon wants to become F1 world champion

Since then, imagining the Enstone-based team without Ocon has been impossible. Ocon still struggled in his first year back in Formula 1 but stood his ground alongside Fernando Alonso. That earned Ocon a long-term contract with the team, giving him a seat in F1 until 2024.

That permanence doesn't make Ocon feel satisfied. His goal is still very much open: "I want to be a world champion. That's the only thing I think about when I'm coming into an F1 paddock. I'm not just here to participate and score points. I want to win and achieve podiums."

Of course, he has the self-confidence to compete at the top, but at the top currently is someone who knows Ocon well. Verstappen has been a rival of Ocon's for years, and the Frenchman also managed to beat Verstappen once in Formula 3.

"Max fully deserves what is happening to him at the moment. What he's done with Red Bull is more than impressive. It's just amazing. I've been racing with Max in karting, in single-seaters, in Formula 1. He's clearly the best driver out there at the moment," Ocon praised his former rival.

"I have to believe, and I'm believing, that if I have the right car, I can fight for world championships too. If you don't think of that, you should not be in Formula 1. I want to be a world champion and will give everything for it until I cannot anymore," the Alpine driver concluded.