Esteban Ocon, a former winner in Formula 1, 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 naturally talented drivers in the current grid.
During his junior racing days, Ocon competed against names like Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen, which gave him valuable insight into their abilities. According to Ocon, both Leclerc and Verstappen possess exceptional natural talent. Verstappen, who has already won three world championships, and Leclerc, a winner of five Grand Prix races, stand out among their peers.
When asked about the most talented driver in F1 at the moment, Ocon replied: « Besides yourself, I believe it’s Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. I’ve been racing against Charles since 2005 and Max since 2010, and regardless of the conditions, we have always been side by side or among the top three. »
Ocon has longed for a place in one of the top teams, like Mercedes. Despite proving to be a highly competent midfield driver, his 2024 campaign did not start well. Alpine currently finds itself as the slowest team on the grid, behind Haas and Stake.
Recognizing 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 fall back.
Alpine had a forgettable outing at last year’s Australian GP, where both Ocon and Pierre Gasly crashed. With these past incidents and the ongoing issues faced by Alpine, all eyes will be on the French team in the upcoming race weekend.
