As part of a new, daily series in the run-up to the start of pre-season, Motorsport Week brings you brief left-field reflections and stories of teams, drivers and reserve/test drivers that will be part of the Formula 1 paddock in 2019.
Esteban Ocon is fully entrenched within the Mercedes set-up and will spend 2019 as its reserve driver, with a view to 2020, after missing out on a race seat.
Ocon has already had something of a colourful career, having stepped up to Formula 1 with Manor off the back of a reserve role as part of a Renault loan deal, which led to test and practice runs. Ocon, who also drove the twin-tusked Lotus E22 when he was part of Gravity Sports' scheme in 2014, tested for Mercedes mid-2016 and spent two years racing for Force India.
But he has also donned red overalls and tested for Ferrari.
Ocon only picked up his Mercedes connection in 2015, becoming a fully-fledged member of its young driver scheme at the end of his title-winning GP3 campaign, during which he had loose backing from the manufacturer.
In 2014 Ocon took the European Formula 3 title and part of the prize for winning the championship was a Ferrari Formula 1 test. At the end of October Ocon piloted the race-winning 2010-spec F10 at Ferrari’s Fiorano track, with the test overseen by then-Ferrari academy chief (and now close associate of Lance Stroll) Luca Baldisserri. “Even if we are used to working with rookies, it’s a real surprise to see someone to take to the track, showing a level of professionalism as demonstrated by Esteban,” said Baldisserri of the test. “Despite it being his first time in one of our cars, he tackled the test without making any mistakes and was quick right from the start.”
Ocon was eventually picked up by Mercedes. Ferrari, shortly afterwards, signed Charles Leclerc…
