Esteban Ocon says he’s convinced the time will come in Formula 1 when he will be entrusted with a championship-winning car, as long as he works hard and continues to do well.
The Alpine charger already has a race win to his name, thanks to his remarkable display in the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix, where he took advantage of an opening lap incident that decimated the front runners to claim his maiden F1 win.
Ocon also scored an impressive podium in last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, but overall, the 27-year-old has never had a piece of equipment worthy of fighting for the world title.
“It is a pain, for sure,” Ocon admitted, quoted by RacingNews365. “But I’m working still as if we are going for wins and podiums after every weekend.
“You have to re-adjust your target and my target is to get the best out of the car every race weekend.
“I believe if I work hard and do well on the track then my time will come. One day I will have a car that I can compete in for championships and wins. I’m looking forward to that.”
Ocon’s confidence is in part built on his successful battles in karting and in motorsport’s junior ranks with several of Formula 1’s current front-runners, including three-time world champion Max Verstappen, whom the Frenchman defeated in the 2015 European F3 championship.
“I’ve been growing up with these guys who are leading all the time: Charles [Leclerc] and Max. I know what I’m capable of,” Ocon asserted.
“I never actually thought we would all make it to Formula 1 and that’s probably why we succeeded, because if you start to see yourself up there it’s not a good thing.
“Maybe it has played a part that we were all together and pushed each other in the go-karts. We’ve built a super strong generation and it’s good to see we are all up here.”
Although Ocon is one hundred percent dedicated to his ambitions in F1, he acknowledged an interest in one day competing at Le Mans, perhaps against the likes of Verstappen and Leclerc who have both put the endurance classic on their motorsport bucket list.
“One day. Never say never, but right now I’m obviously fully focused on Formula 1,” said the Alpine driver whose team’s WEC affiliate Signatech handles the manufacturer’s Hypercar endeavor in the championship.
“It is clear that Le Mans is a phenomenal race and it would be cool if they could schedule it between F1 races.
“If one F1 driver makes the switch, many will follow. It’s something for the future now.”
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