'Best laps of the season' deliver P6 to Ocon

©WRI2

Esteban Ocon will line up on the third row of tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix grid following a clean and tidy qualifying session on Saturday.

Force India's pink panther delivered a flawless performance behind the wheel of a well-balanced VJM10 and a string of laps which he believes were among the best of the year.

"I’m very happy with our performance today," said Ocon.

"The car has been working really well since the start of practice and it’s clear that all the hard work we have done since Singapore has paid off.

Ocon gave Gasly his first break!

The Frenchman, who has been massively impressive in his first full season of F1 thanks to his outstanding consistency, is obviously targeting a run in the points on Sunday.

"I think we found further performance today and all the small changes we made to the car really helped make the difference. So it’s a great team effort and we are in good shape for tomorrow.

"My laps today were strong – probably some of my best of the season, but there is still room to improve. You never know what can happen in the race, but it’s a good chance to score some big points."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.