Formula 1

“Something that we didn’t have in my generation” – Esteban Ocon highlights the importance of Sim Racing in the modern era

Published by

Esteban Ocon is all geared up to represent Alpine at this weekend’s Singapore GP – he highlighted the importance of sim racing.

Esteban Ocon hosted a brief ‘Ask Me Anything’ session on Reddit ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. Among the many questions that popped up, a fan asked him: “As you famously come from a more modest family than most of the grid, how would you suggest we make racing more accessible for kids of all kinds of social and economic backgrounds?”

Ocon came up with a very well-summarised answer, highlighting the role of ‘Sim racing’ in developing professional drivers these days irrespective of their backgrounds.

Ocon appreciated the question and stated that nowadays, motorsport has become increasingly expensive. However, there’s a highly effective method for learning how to drive, and that’s through sim racing. Sim racing wasn’t as realistic in his generation, but today, it’s the ideal way to get started in racing, especially if someone lacks a racing background or can’t access a real karting track.

One can master the fundamentals and potentially become a successful racing driver, as exemplified by individuals like Jann Mardenborough, who began his journey in sim racing, where there exists a remarkably high level of competition.

Esteban Ocon comes from a humble background

Esteban Ocon was born in Évreux, Normandy, to Sabrine Khelfane and Laurent Ocon. Laurent, his father, is a mechanic who owns a garage in Évreux.

Related Post

Although Esteban’s paternal family hails from Málaga, Spain, his upbringing was in Évreux. During his karting career, his parents faced financial challenges and had to sell their family home, which also included his father’s garage, to support Esteban’s karting pursuits.

Following the sale of their house, they lived in and traveled to races in a caravan that Esteban also used as a makeshift motor home.

Esteban Ocon

In 2006, Ocon began his karting career by participating in the Minime class of the French Championship, achieving an eighth-place finish. His talents shone in 2007 as he secured the championship title, and he continued his winning streak in 2008, triumphing in the Cadet class, outpacing competitors such as Anthoine Hubert and Pierre Gasly. Following these victories, Ocon spent three years competing in the KF3 category, where he also took part in the Spanish Championship and Italian Open Masters. In 2010, he clinched the French KF3 championship title and, in 2011, came second in the WSK Euro Series, with Max Verstappen leading the series.

At the age of 14, Ocon was signed by Gravity Sports management, a sister company of Renault F1 team. Ocon hasn’t looked back ever since.

More Formula One News

Follow our dedicated Formula One page for instant Formula One news and updates

Sarbik Dutta

My heart races on the F1 track and tennis courts, translating the adrenaline of each moment into words. While F1's speed thrills and tennis's finesse captivate me, my passion doesn't stop there. As a devoted follower of cricket, football, and various Olympic sports, I find myself engulfed in the highs and lows of these games. Through my writing, I aim to share the stories behind the stats, the emotions fueling the victories, and the struggles that define the journey of athletes across diverse disciplines. Being a voice that echoes the fervor of these sports is a privilege I cherish every day.

Share
Published by