Renault’s Esteban Ocon has admitted frustration following a disappointing Turkish Grand Prix, believing he had the pace for a top five result.
Ocon, who started from 7th on the grid, propelled himself off the line and was challenging for third place before being spun around after a touch from team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Further on in the opening lap, Ocon was tagged again by Valtteri Bottas and sustained a puncture, forcing him to the back of the field with an early pit-stop.
As the race progressed, Ocon moved up the order and crossed the finish line in 11th place, leaving him disgruntled as he believes an undisrupted race would have seen him deliver a high-position finish.
“It’s unfortunate I would say,” Ocon commented. “A lot of bad luck recently.
“It’s hard to digest because we had a good car for a top-five [result], at least good points. We are disappointed obviously, I got a flying start I was very happy with being third or fourth.
“Lewis hit Daniel and then Daniel hit me in the first corner. I need to re-watch the images to know exactly what happened, but that’s what I got told.
“I got hit again at Turn 9, the rest of the lap I had a puncture and from there my race was compromised. The only thing I will say is on to the next one.”
Ocon took positives from his recovery, but admitted his drive to 11th only “shows that our pace was really positive and that’s why we are gutted about the race”.
With Ricciardo picking up just a single point, Renault has dropped back in the fight for third in the Constructors’ Championship, sitting 18 points behind Racing Point.
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