Esteban Ocon Tag

By Adam Tate, Associate Editor There is a reason Toto Wolff is so happy Valtteri Bottas has finally signed for Mercedes. Consequently, there is a reason Claire Williams is so happy Felipe Massa is back with her team as Bottas’ replacement. Teams with experienced veterans are rejoicing ahead of the 2017 regulations because they know that experience will count more than ever before. It is not unusual for cars and teams to be pushed to their breaking point during the debut season of major rule changes, but 2017 is going toRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief The 2017 Formula 1 season is drawing near and with it hopeful answers to the uncertainty that looms over it. The big elephant in the room is who will be replacing reigning world champion Nico Rosberg at Mercedes? Several speculate that Toto Wolff is set on bringing in Valtteri Bottas from Williams to pilot alongside Lewis Hamilton. Bottas is remarkably talented, but there are reasons to halt that idea and go a different direction. There is a good chance that whoever takes over the seat isRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Force India officially confirmed that it will reveal their car for the 2017 Formula 1 season at Silverstone on February 22. The team enjoyed its best season to date with a fourth-place finish in the Constructors’ Championship, led by a pair of podiums from Sergio Perez and a best finish of fourth by Nico Hulkenberg  – both of whom finished among the top 10 in the driver’ standings. Hulkenberg has since moved on to Renault and Esteban Ocon will now drive the upcoming VJM10 alongside PerezRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief A return to Manor was in the mix for Rio Haryanto, but recent events have put a major hit on a chance for a race seat for the 2017 Formula 1 season. The 23-year-old Indonesian’s main backer Pertamina, a state-owned oil and natural gas corporation, has decided to pull its sponsorship, leaving the country’s first F1 competitor without substantial funding for next season. “This year there will not be a continuation of participation by Pertamina in F1,” spokeswoman Wianda Pusponegoro said in a statement. “Of courseRead More

Lewis Hamilton won a dramatic, rain-lashed and incident packed Brazilian Grand Prix to take the battle for the Drivers’ Championship title to the final round in Abu Dhabi in two weeks’ time. In a three-hour race repeatedly neutralised by safety cars, crashes and red flags, Hamilton led from start to finish to win ahead of title rival Nico Rosberg. But it was Max Verstappen who provided thrilling entertainment, with the Red Bull driver rising from 16th place in the closing stages to take the final podium place. Force India’s SergioRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Force India announced that it has signed Esteban Ocon to a multi-year agreement beginning for the 2017 Formula 1 season. The 20-year-old Frenchman is a Mercedes junior driver and has been racing with Manor Racing for the last seven rounds, starting since the Belgian Grand Prix. The 2015 GP3 Series champion had been serving as a reserve driver with Renault and had been tabbed for a full-time seat prior to signing with Force India. Ocon will team with Sergio Perez next year, replacing Nico Hulkenberg, whichRead More

Lewis Hamilton beat Nico Rosberg to the top of the final practice timesheets in Monza, with the championship leader finishing almost four tenths of a second clear of his Mercedes team-mate. Rosberg was the first of the Mercedes pairing to show his hand in qualifying trim during the session, posting a time of 1:22.401 with 20 minutes left on the clock. His spell at the top of the order didn’t last long, however, as Hamilton was across the line moments later with a time of 1:22.008. It would remain theRead More

By Joey Barnes, Editor-in-Chief Esteban Ocon is set to make his Formula 1 debut in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Franchorchamps after being tabbed to replace Rio Haryanto at Manor for the remainder of the season. A winner of both the FIA European F3 championship (2014) and GP3 Series title (2015), Ocon has spent this year in a reserve role with Renault Sport F1 Team while also competing with Mercedes-AMG in DTM. “I’m thrilled that I’ll be making my Grand Prix debut with Manor Racing later this month, and atRead More

Fernando Alonso set the fastest time the day as Formula One’s final in-season test got underway in mixed conditions at Silverstone. Alonso’s table-topping time of 1:31.290 was set on the supersoft tyres in the largely dry morning session and was good enough to see 1.5s clear of Mercedes’ Esteban Ocon on a day when just four Formula One race drivers took to the track. Ocon in turn finished over 1.5s ahead of third-placed Williams tester Alex Lynn. Alonso’s morning time was 0.450 quicker than his best time in qualifying forRead More

By Adam Tate, Managing Editor Renault is back in Formula One as a full time constructor for the first time since 2011. The historic marque launched its new campaign today from Paris where Nissan-Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn and other VIP’s debuted the stunning RS16 in a temporary black livery. Kevin Magnussen’s place in the team was also confirmed at the launch after much speculation. Magnussen will race alongside Joylon Palmer in an all new line up for the team after Romain Grosjean’s move to Haas and Pastor Maldonado’s recent departure from the sport. Esteban OconRead More