SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 10 hrs 55 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Ocon 'not disappointed' to miss Mercedes seat

:Headline: Ocon 'not disappointed' to miss Mercedes seat: ID:383288: from db_amp
Esteban Ocon insists he is not "disappointed" to be returning to F1 in 2020 with Renault rather than Mercedes.

Esteban Ocon insists he is not "disappointed" to be returning to F1 in 2020 with Renault rather than Mercedes.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff considered replacing Valtteri Bottas with 2019 reserve Ocon for next year, after the Frenchman sat out this year following his Force India demise.

Asked if he is disappointed that his eventual race return will now be with Renault, Ocon insisted: "Not at all.

"I'm with a French team that has big ambitions to return to the top level in a few years, so clearly it is not at all a disappointment. Rather, it's a relief," he told RMC.

However, team officials are warning that Renault's focus next year will clearly be on 2021, meaning that 2020 could be yet another interim season.

"Renault's ambitions for 2020 will be to do better than this year," Ocon, 23, said.

"This year we clearly underperformed, so the team wants to do much better than that. It is not the ambition to be fifth.

"From there, we will have to progress, developing the car and getting closer to the three big teams.

"My personal goal is to be on the podium during the season. I think that if we can do that, it will mean we have taken a big step forward."

Ocon got his first taste of his new career in a yellow car with two days at the post-season Abu Dhabi test recently.

"Alan Permane told me that at no time did he have the impression that Esteban had not taken part in the past season," team boss Cyril Abiteboul told Auto Hebdo.

"So there is nothing particular to report, except the satisfaction of being able to do with Esteban what we could not do with Daniel (Ricciardo) last year because Red Bull did not allow it," he said.

"Daniel's integration to the team suffered a little because of that, so clearly we have saved time this time."

amp_article__383288 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-12-18 07:31:48:
html db last update - 2021-02-13 18:28:00 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Esteban Ocon

Click here for more stories about Mercedes

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .