FRAEsteban Ocon
Esteban Ocon is a French Formula 1 driver known for his resilience, skill, and competitive spirit. Born on September 17, 1996, in Évreux, France, Ocon has risen through the ranks of motorsport from a young age and is now one of the prominent drivers in Formula 1. His journey to F1 was marked by determination and a series of impressive performances in various junior categories. Ocon began his career in karting, where he showed great promise, quickly advancing through the ranks. His success in karting led him to compete in Formula Renault 2.0 and Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, where he continued to impress with his speed and consistency.
Ocon made his Formula 1 debut in 2016 as a reserve driver for Mercedes AMG Petronas and was quickly offered a race seat with the Manor Racing Team later that year. While Manor was struggling with performance, Ocon impressed in his first season by consistently outpacing his teammate, Rio Haryanto, and showing his potential despite the team's limitations. In 2017, Ocon joined Force India (now Aston Martin), initially as a full-time driver. He formed a competitive pairing with Sergio Pérez, and the duo helped the team achieve strong results, consistently finishing in the points.
In 2019, Ocon found a seat with the Renault F1 Team (now Alpine F1 Team). It was a crucial year for Ocon as it marked his return to Formula 1 after a year on the sidelines as a reserve driver for Mercedes. Ocon showed impressive form in his return, often being competitive against his teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, and securing strong finishes throughout the season. Ocon’s standout moment that year came at the Sakhir Grand Prix, where he finished 2nd, earning his first-ever Formula 1 podium.