Ocon heads to Monaco with useful lesson in mind

Experience is an ally when it comes to racing at Monaco, and Force India's Esteban Ocon heads to the Principality this week with an important lesson in mind.

The treacherous street circuit takes no prisoners and offers zero tolerance to those who boldly attempt to venture beyond the limit, as the French driver found out in qualifying last year.

"It’s a true driving challenge. You have to be so precise and there is no room for error," explained Ocon in his team's race preview.

"You have to find the limit quickly and be careful not to step over it.

"Last year I found out the hard way in FP3, but with more experience this year I hope it won’t happen again."

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For all its pitfalls and difficulties, Monaco remains a high point as a venue for an F1 driver however, and Ocon is no different in this respect than his colleagues.

"I think everybody loves going to Monaco. It’s just such a special place," says.

"When you think of F1, you think of Monaco. Driving on the famous streets in an F1 car was a dream come true and I’m just as excited to go back there this year.

"The location is so spectacular. It’s beautiful and glamorous with an amazing atmosphere. When you arrive at the start of the week you can’t help smiling when you walk down the pit lane and see all the final touches being made.

"The fans can get really close and I think that’s important. It’s definitely the busiest week of the year. All the sponsors want to be there and every night you have events.

"That’s why it’s great to have the additional day so that you can fit everything in."

Last time out, in Spain, the Frenchman was sidelined by an engine issue after 30 laps, stopping his car as ominous smoke poured from its Mercedes power unit.

The incident made Ocon fear a grid penalty could be in store for Monaco but the subsequent diagnosis revealed an oil system issue that did not impact the unit's internal combustion engine.

The Force India driver should therefore be spared an engine change and, more importantly, a potential race-ruining grid drop.

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