Esteban Ocon is spending 2019 on the sidelines, but the absence of racing doesn't mean he isn't learning anything from his role as Mercedes' reserve and simulator driver. Au contraire.
Ocon is perhaps just days away from learning his fate for next season, with a report from Germany this week contending that the Frenchman will be heading to Renault for 2020.
It's likely a restless period for the Frenchman, but regardless of where he'll be racing next season, Ocon will return to action enlightened by his experience with Mercedes.
"I’m learning so much at Mercedes. When I come back, I’ll be a much more complete driver," the 22-year-old told Formula1.com's Lawrence Barretto.
Since Melbourne, Ocon's schedule has articulated around his crucial simulator work with Mercedes at Brackley and his embedded presence with the Silver Arrows outfit on Grand Prix weekends.
One can hardly imagine anything more frustrating for a young F1 driver than standing in the wings in a team's garage during a forced sabbatical.
But for Ocon, observing the team's procedures, listening in on the crews communication and sitting in on technical briefings has been anything but a waste of time.
"It’s very good for me to be here and part of the team already," he says.
"This team is so successful and has so much knowledge. That knowledge is priceless.
"I’ve worked so much on feedback, on just working for the team. In my position, there is no performance to gain on my side.
"The only job I have to do is to perform properly from what the team want in the simulator. At the moment, that’s what I’m doing."
Through his countless hours spent in the simulator, Ocon has contributed to the development of Mercedes' W10, but the experience has also been massively beneficial to his own advancement.
"From the amount of driving and hours I do, I’m definitely taking a lot of knowledge from that," he confirms.
"Also as a driver, it’s going to help me with focus. I do so many hours at different times of the day. We’re looking for between one or two-tenths during more than 200 laps. It’s very hard, but it’s good and I’m happy I’m doing it."
Ocon's mileage in the simulator often adds up to 1000 kms in a single session
"It helps me understand from a team point of view what a team wants from a driver," he explains.
"This is the aspect I have learned the most. Spending a lot of time with the team, listening more to the team than to the drivers. I’m plugged to the wall, working in the sim.
"I’m hearing a lot more the team, than the drivers. I hear 35% the driver and the rest is all the team. I see what they need from a driver, and also the way they want to approach things."
Ocon's virtual duties will often involve lengthy sessions on Friday evenings on Grand Prix weekends.
When free practice ends, the engineers at Brackley pick up where their colleagues at the track left off, feeding all the data collected over the day into the simulator to help improve and fine-tune the car for Saturday.
Ocon will then pack up and join the team on site for the remainder of the weekend. It can be a very tiring process, but the Frenchman explains why he won't have it any other way.
"If you’re not at the track, people will forget you," he says.
"This is also probably a part of why we didn’t go somewhere else this year. Our target is to be back in F1. My only goal is to be in F1.
"Of course, if it doesn’t work next year, I will have to look at something else. But it’s not the target.
"This is also the reason why I’m staying here every race. I want to stick to F1, stick to the team, so that no one forgets me."
Ocon admits that returning to active duty may take him "some time to get up to speed".
"The winter tests should be enough," he adds.
"I think in one year, the changes are not massive. If you miss two years, it’s a big step."
But a two-year sabbatical isn't on the cards for the talented Mr. Ocon.
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