Sahara Force India F1 Team driver Esteban Ocon is looking forward to racing in Austria this weekend, as the F1 calendar finally arrives at a track he knows extremely well from racing in the junior formulas, as well as testing for the Silverstone based squad, before he became a full-time F1 driver.
“Austria is a track I know much better than the previous ones on which we have raced so far this season. I drove there a lot in the junior categories and I tested for Sahara Force India there in 2015. It’s a great place and the altitude makes it a challenge for the engine and the brakes.”
The Red Bull Ring is a favourite of Ocon’s and he particularly likes the final two turns, which he considers to be tricky to get right. Getting through that section mistake free, makes it all the more satisfying. “The circuit doesn’t have many corners, but it’s still difficult to get a perfect lap: in particular, the last two corners are the most enjoyable in the track because they’re quite tricky and even a small mistake can ruin a good lap right at the end.”
Having come into contact with team-mate Sergio Perez for the second race in a row in Azerbaijan, which this time saw both drivers lose out on a possible podium and definitely lost the team points, the Frenchman will be looking to ensure no such incident happens again this time around.
Force India have a competitive car in the VJM10, and Ocon would be wise to take advantage of that as much as possible.