Esteban Ocon

Esteban Ocon is a French racing driver who drives for the Alpine Formula 1 Team in the 2024 Formula 1 World Championship.

Esteban José Jean-Pierre Ocon-Khelfane comes from more humble beginnings. In order to support his racing career, his parents Sabrine Khelfane and father, Laurent Ocon sold their home and garage (Laurent was a mechanic) and travelled in a caravan from race to race, which Esteban would also use as a motor home.

Starting his career in karting, Esteban Ocon won the 2007 Minime class of the French Championship, the Cadet class in 2008 (ahead of future Alpine teammate Pierre Gasly), and the French KF3 title in 2010.

Moving up in career, Ocon raced in Formula Renault, where he finished 3rd in the 2012 championship (this time behind Pierre Gasly). In 2014, Esteban Ocon won an FIA Formula 3 European Championship 2 races before the end of the season ahead of drivers like Tom Blomqvist and Max Verstappen.

Esteban Ocon started his Formula 1 career in the Manor Racing team, where he replaced Rio Haryanto mid-season. In 2017, Esteban Ocon joined Force India alongside Sergio Perez; however, the pairing of these two drivers resulted in multiple on-track incidents and created an internal conflict in the team.

After losing his seat to Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon joined Mercedes as a reserve driver for the 2019 season. He would get his second chance in Renault (2020), and the Frenchman scored his first-ever Formula 1 podium at the Sakhir Grand Prix by finishing second in the race.

In 2021, the Renault team was rebranded to Alpine. Notably, Ocon got his first-ever Formula 1 victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix the same year. After Fernando Alonso left the Alpine at the end of 2022, Esteban Ocon was joined by his friend and fellow Frenchman Pierre Gasly.

In 2023, Esteban Ocon got his third career podium after finishing 3rd at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Read also

Gasly vs Ocon: All 2024 Alpine Head To Head Stats