Esteban Ocon is the most talented French racing driver, who hasn't reached Formula 1 yet, however he has been knocking on its doors more and more intensely. However he is only 19, he has already tested three different F1 cars and achieved many successes throughout his career, with European Formula 3 title from last year topping his legacy. This year he plays a part of Mercedes F1 Team development driver and races in GP3 series where is undisputed champion of... second places. He was second in 9 out of 10 last races. However it may be a reason for happiness for him, because he has been regularly securing good points and before the season final in Abu Dhabi he is at... second place in the standings, but his gap to the leader equals only 3 points. When he improves his pace just a little, he will be crowned for this year's GP3 series champion.
Wojtek Paprota: Esteban, how do you manage to be so consistent this season, in terms of results you score?
Esteban Ocon: "To win a championship in the end, you have to score good points all the time and this is the bottom line. Maybe I will win a bit less races, but I will be more consistent in the points and taking less risk. I think that is how you win championship”.
Wojtek: Is there still something what you need to improve to start winning races in GP3 series? Is something a real problem for you?
Esteban: "No, I have no problem, but I think that we have to improve our qualifying pace overall in the team, because second is not where we want to be. This is how it goes for the future races, we just want poles”.
Wojtek: Has anything surprised you when you joined GP3 series, as it is your first season here?
Esteban: "Tires are quite difficult to be at use. Coming from a different series it is the main thing what you need to learn so I really have to learn quickly. But once you learn it, it is great to work with them”.
Wojtek: You are 19 and you have already achieved many successes in motorsport because you were driving three Formula 1 cars from three different teams and won many championships. Are you 100% satisfied from the position where you are now?
Esteban: „Yes, definitely. I am definitely happy about my situation now. I am in good position for the future, but I still have to perform like every driver. That is the most important thing in motorsport”.
Wojtek: You are also a development driver in Mercedes F1 Team so you can learn from the best drivers in the world. Who is the one you look up to and work with much closely?
Esteban: „I know more Nico. I work with him more, than with Lewis. Lewis is quite a busy guy. I have more time to talk with Nico, but when I have a chance to exchange some words with Lewis, he also seems to be a nice guy”.
Wojtek: As a French motorsport uprising star, what do you think about Renault's comeback to Formula 1?
Esteban: "I don't know any details about it. I know the same as everybody from this world, because my knownledge is based on what I read in the Internet”.
Wojtek: Do you see yourself there in a few years time?
Esteban: "At the moment no, because I have a contract with Mercedes and I don't want to change it”.
Wojtek: What is the most vital thing that racing driver needs to learn throughout racing in feeder series, to be able to compete in Formula 1 with great successes?
Esteban: "I think that at the moment tires are the key to be successful in F1. If you know how to manage tires during the race and how to perform well in qualifying then you will be fast in F1”.
Wojtek: What about the personal features, for example humility?
Esteban: "That is always the point you have to ask other people. From your own perspective, as a driver you can't judge what is good and what is bad, or at least I don't know it yet. It just comes along the experience”.
Wojtek: Who is the person you try to follow up in your career?
Esteban: "I follow all the great sportsmen, I try to learn as much as possible from them. All the best drivers from Formula 1, motorcycles drivers, runner, swimmers, everybody. I try to watch a lot of documentary about them and learn as much as I can from them”.
