Jonas Leo
London, UK – Formula 1 driver Esteban Ocon has offered a candid insight into the profound emotional challenges he faced during the 2019 season, a year he unexpectedly spent on the sidelines as a Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team reserve driver. The French racer, then a burgeoning talent, described the period as immensely difficult, culminating in moments of intense frustration and tears as a promising career trajectory hit an unforeseen roadblock.
Ocon’s unexpected hiatus followed a complex and ultimately unfavourable chain of events in the high-stakes world of Formula 1 driver transfers. Heading into the summer of 2018, Ocon, a Mercedes protégé, was widely regarded as one of the sport’s brightest prospects. In his second full F1 campaign with Sahara Force India F1 Team, he demonstrated formidable pace and consistency. At the midpoint of the season, prior to the crucial summer break, Ocon was closely matched with his seasoned teammate Sergio Perez in the drivers’ standings. He had notably outqualified Perez seven times in succession, a testament to his raw speed and development. Despite this impressive momentum, the young Frenchman found himself without a race seat for the following year.
"It was difficult," Ocon recounted in a recent Autosport ‘You Ask The Questions’ interview, reflecting on his growth during that challenging year. "It was at Renault that I was supposed to drive, but there was also another team involved at the time. And yeah, with both it created a massive mess-up, I would say, for my year in Formula 1."
The backdrop to Ocon’s predicament was a highly volatile driver market. His strong performances at Force India had attracted significant attention, leading his patron, Mercedes, to consider him as a potential successor to Valtteri Bottas alongside reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton for the 2019 season. Simultaneously, both the Renault F1 Team and McLaren Racing expressed keen interest in securing the services of the then 21-year-old. This multi-party interest, however, inadvertently contributed to his eventual exclusion from the grid.
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On July 20, 2018, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff announced that Valtteri Bottas had been awarded a new contract, securing his place for 2019. This decision, influenced by the competitive landscape and Mercedes’ desire for stability, closed one potential avenue for Ocon. Meanwhile, Ocon’s options were seemingly opening elsewhere. Prior to the German Grand Prix weekend (July 20-22, 2018), he visited the McLaren Technology Centre for a seat fitting, indicating advanced discussions that could have seen him replace Stoffel Vandoorne mid-season, leading to a full-time drive in 2019.
However, it was Renault that appeared to have secured Ocon’s future. A handshake agreement was reportedly reached between Ocon and Renault team boss Cyril Abiteboul, although a formal contract was never signed. This informal agreement would prove to be Ocon’s undoing when the driver market took a dramatic turn. On August 3, 2018, the bombshell news broke: Daniel Ricciardo, a highly sought-after race winner, announced his unexpected departure from Aston Martin Red Bull Racing. Renault, seizing the opportunity to sign a proven Grand Prix winner, moved swiftly to secure Ricciardo, effectively rescinding their commitment to Ocon. Ricciardo’s Red Bull exit and his new Renault deal were announced concurrently, sending shockwaves through the paddock.
The ripple effect of Ricciardo’s move was immediate and far-reaching. McLaren, having been informed that Ocon was no longer available due to his impending Renault deal, had shifted their focus. They entered advanced negotiations with Carlos Sainz Jr., who subsequently joined rookie Lando Norris to form McLaren’s 2019 driver lineup. Concurrently, Red Bull Racing filled Ricciardo’s vacant seat by promoting Pierre Gasly from their junior team, Toro Rosso, to partner Max Verstappen. This rapid sequence of events, occurring within a span of weeks, left Esteban Ocon as the unfortunate casualty, with no available race seat for the 2019 Formula 1 season.
Consequently, Ocon spent the entire 2019 campaign as a reserve driver for Mercedes. While a position with the dominant team of the era offered invaluable experience, it came with the immense frustration of watching from the sidelines. "It was a tough year, that one," the current BWT Alpine F1 Team driver reflected. "I was not happy, of course, to be where I was. I was developing a car during the night, and doing the job of two reserve drivers, I was doing it by myself – they later had two or three drivers doing the job I was doing, so that’s how much commitment I was putting in."
Ocon’s role was demanding, involving countless hours in the simulator, extensive data analysis, and attending every Grand Prix weekend. He was deeply embedded in the development of the Mercedes W10, a car that would go on to secure Lewis Hamilton his sixth World Championship and Mercedes their sixth consecutive constructors’ title. This proximity to success, without the ability to participate, proved particularly agonizing.
"Basically that car then, when I was coming to the track, was winning races, but I was not inside the seat," Ocon elaborated. The lack of direct track time was a constant concern for a driver striving to maintain peak performance and readiness for a return to racing. "I remember I went back to the rental car and I cried, because for me driving was going to be super important to get ready for the following year, so that year for me was like, stay active, try and drive as much as you can in whatever cars it is, and take as much technical feedback as you can, because they are dominating for when you will come back into the race, that was my aim, but it was long."
The emotional toll was evident, highlighting the immense pressure and personal sacrifice inherent in professional motorsport. Despite his commitment to Mercedes, Ocon’s prospects of securing a race seat with the Silver Arrows for 2020 diminished as Lewis Hamilton continued his dominance and Valtteri Bottas maintained a consistent, if not always challenging, presence. Ultimately, Toto Wolff once again opted for Bottas for the 2020 season.
However, Ocon’s resilience and dedication paid off. His strong performances in 2018, combined with his diligent work as a Mercedes reserve, kept him firmly on the radar of other teams. He eventually secured a return to the grid, signing with the Renault F1 Team (which would later become Alpine F1 Team) for the 2020 season, partnering Daniel Ricciardo. This move proved to be a pivotal moment in his career. In 2021, Ocon achieved a career highlight, securing his maiden and to date only Formula 1 Grand Prix victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix, fending off Sebastian Vettel in a dramatic race.
Since his return, Ocon has continued to be a consistent performer for Alpine, demonstrating his race craft and commitment. While his aspirations of racing for Mercedes were eventually overshadowed by the rise of fellow Mercedes junior George Russell, who ultimately joined the factory team in 2022, Ocon has carved out a significant career in the sport. His journey through the challenging 2019 season stands as a testament to his perseverance, turning a year of unexpected disappointment into a foundation for future success. Ocon remains a key driver for Alpine, navigating the team through the competitive midfield battles of the current era.
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Author Profile
- Jonas Leo is a passionate motorsport journalist and lifelong Formula 1 enthusiast. With a sharp eye for race strategy and driver performance, he brings readers closer to the world of Grand Prix racing through in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive paddock insights. Jonas has covered everything from preseason testing to dramatic title deciders, capturing the emotion and precision that define modern F1. When he’s not tracking lap times or pit stop tactics, he enjoys exploring classic racing archives and writing about the evolution of F1 technology.
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