Esteban Ocon Tag

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

The opening 2015 Formula One two day in-season test at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya featured a blend of series regulars and F1 hopefuls, just days following the Spanish Grand Prix. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, winner of the Spanish Grand Prix, set the tone early by topping the time sheets and clicking off 146 laps in the morning session. Mercedes, along with Red Bull, Ferrari and Toro Rosso, were appointed to help tire manufacturer Pirelli test new rubber over the course of the two day test with Rosberg’s time of 1:24.374s leadingRead More