Esteban Ocon seems to be in his ultimate months in Method 1. The Frenchman is falling quick in comparison with Oliver Bearman, very like he did towards most of his teammates all through his profession. Right here, GPblog provides you an evaluation of his F1 head-to-heads.
The Method 1 debut
Esteban Ocon made his Method 1 debut with Manor in 2016. The then Mercedes junior did so alongside fellow Mercedes protégé Pascal Wehrlein. Within the races the place they each completed, Ocon ended up forward six instances and behind his German teammate solely thrice. In qualifying, the image was reversed. There, Ocon completed behind Wehrlein six instances and forward solely twice.
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But in 2017, it wasn’t Wehrlein however Ocon who was picked up by Drive India. Each Mercedes juniors examined for the staff. Wehrlein was quicker and extra skilled, however Ocon listened higher to the staff’s enter. Drive India and staff principal Otmar Szafnauer subsequently selected the younger Frenchman.
Ocon on par with Perez
At Drive India, Ocon received the Mexican Sergio Perez as his teammate, and so they finally spent two seasons collectively on the staff. Over these two years, Ocon received the qualifying battle (23-18) and Perez received the race battle (18-23). Ocon was near Perez however by no means produced the identical highs, such because the podium Perez scored at Azerbaijan in 2018.
In 2019, Ocon needed to make method for Lance Stroll at Aston Martin, forcing him to spend a yr on the sidelines. Ocon used that point as a reserve driver for Mercedes, studying from Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. An opportunity at Mercedes by no means got here, however he did get a second shot in 2020 with Renault.
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Ricciardo places Ocon in his place
In his first yr again in F1 with Renault, nonetheless, Ocon fell by the cracks. Alongside Daniel Ricciardo, Ocon was completely outclassed. In a single yr, Ocon misplaced the qualifying battle 15-2 and the race battle 4-13. The factors hole was immense as effectively: 119 to 62.
Whereas usually a yr like that might finish issues instantly, Ricciardo left for McLaren and Ocon received a brand new teammate in Fernando Alonso. A two-time world champion, although previous his peak. Over two years, Ocon didn’t persuade. He narrowly misplaced the qualifying battle (21-23), whereas he narrowly received the race battle (23-21).
After his first yr at Alpine—throughout which Ocon additionally claimed his first and up to now solely F1 victory—he was supplied a considerable contract extension by Alpine. Consequently, after Alonso, he received yet one more new teammate at Alpine. Fittingly, it was his former childhood buddy with whom he had fallen out through the years who got here to affix him at Alpine: Pierre Gasly. A showdown that everybody, particularly the French press, eagerly anticipated.
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The duel by no means really boiled over between the 2, though it was clear they did not grant one another even a meager level. In opposition to Pierre Gasly, it was one other neck-and-neck combat for Ocon. In qualifying, Gasly was usually the higher (25-20), whereas within the races Ocon had the higher hand (24-21). Even earlier than the top of the 2024 season, nonetheless, Ocon was proven the door as a result of he was set to maneuver to Haas in 2025.
Bearman set to ends Ocon’s F1 profession
Introduced in by Haas because the skilled hand, he has up to now come off second greatest in that battle. In 2025 and 2026, the Frenchman had Oliver Bearman as his teammate. In 2025, the Briton was nonetheless an F1 rookie, however that did not cease him from beating Ocon 13-9 in qualifying with a mean hole of lower than a tenth.
In 2026, Bearman solely widened that hole to his teammate. In qualifying it now stands at 8-3 in Bearman’s favor, with a mean distinction of greater than two tenths. If, because the skilled driver, you’re crushed by the youthful one, you usually know what time it’s.
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At 29 years previous (he turns 30 in September), Esteban Ocon actually is not among the many oldest drivers on the F1 grid, however his time does appear to be up. Haas is actively trying to find a brand new driver alongside Bearman, and there do not look like many different choices for Ocon. Given his CV, that is not very shocking.
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Esteban Ocon’s head-to-heads along with his teammates through the years.
Esteban Ocon’s head-to-heads along with his teammates through the years.
These inclined to be optimistic can say he was on par with Pierre Gasly, Sergio Perez, and Fernando Alonso, however there are much more arguments for the unfavourable view. Alonso was previous his peak, Ocon was outclassed by the now-departed Daniel Ricciardo, and he was by no means convincingly the perfect throughout the staff. Furthermore, the drivers he matched—excluding Alonso—with Perez and Gasly should not drivers who’ve confirmed themselves able to combating for world titles.
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Ocon has nonetheless had a superb profession in Method 1. With 4 podiums and 1 victory, he nonetheless delivered some spectacular outcomes. Then again, it might shock nobody if 2026 marks the top of his time in F1.
