Ocon ready to learn, but also to fight!

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Following a winter of heavy training and preparation, Esteban Ocon is raring to go, and even more so after pulling the cover off Force India's new VJM10 yesterday.

The Frenchman enters his first full season of Grand Prix racing and while he will be an attentive observer of his experienced team mate Sergio Perez, he'll also be doing his own thing and is ready to fight at the outset in Australia.

"He's a very experienced driver," Ocon said, speaking of Perez.

"What he did for this team was really nice. He pulled the team up so much and has achieved great things with this Force India.

"I will have a lot to learn from him, especially in the first test. It is very important for me to see what he does, to see how he communicates with the team and how he wants to make progress with the car.

"So it's going to be nice and interesting for me. My personal target is to arrive straight away and be on the pace. I see testing really as a learning curve."

Perez looking ahead at 'a very big year'

At the launch yesterday at Silverstone, Ocon looked in awe of his new ride, checking the striking VJM10 from all angles, even though he had seen the car before.

"It is going to be exciting, it's a proper man’s car," Ocon enthused. "I look forward to seeing how it is going to perform in Barcelona.

“The physical point of view will be much more important than previous years. It was hard already in the last years but I think it will be twice harder this year."

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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.