Esteban Ocon: Spa has its own distinct character

      The tenth stage of the season, the Belgian Grand Prix, will take place at the classic Spa circuit, which needs no introduction. Esteban Ocon, a driver for Haas F1, has special memories associated with it, which he shared in an interview with the American team's press service.

      Question: One of the brightest moments of your career associated with the Spa circuit is the fact that you debuted in Formula 1 there ten years ago. What do you remember most about that August weekend in 2016?

      Esteban Ocon: I was about to race against such celebrities as Jenson Button and Kimi Raikkonen, whom I had only seen on TV before, and now I was competing with them on the same track, and it was incredible! But I needed to quickly get rid of those kinds of emotions and just focus on the race.

      There were many feelings, but the experience gained then played an important role, becoming a sort of prologue to everything that awaited me in the future. Another unforgettable moment dates back to 2018 when I was 3rd in qualifying. And last year in the sprint qualifying at Spa, we almost repeated it, but then I showed the 5th time.

      In fact, there are many more bright moments associated with the Spa circuit, that's for sure. I often performed quite well there, but due to the whims of the local weather, you never know what the result will be.

      Question: What makes the Belgian circuit so challenging for drivers?

      Esteban Ocon: It has always been challenging, both because of its character and the elevation changes. The Eau Rouge corner requires special respect; you can never take it lightly. The changeable weather complicates everything even more.

      The Belgian circuit is also unique because it is a very fast track. You can feel that old-school racetracks were built differently than modern ones, which gives them a distinct character.

      I have many feelings associated with the Spa circuit, not always pleasant. There were also very difficult moments, primarily referring to the death of Antoine Hubert in 2019...

      Question: You already mentioned your best qualifying result, which you achieved in 2018. What should be considered first to complete a good lap at the Spa circuit?

      Esteban Ocon: When the opportunity arises, you need to try to complete a normal lap, but without taking too many risks – this is especially important in changing weather conditions. This can be the ideal scenario when the track is drying, but then the rain can start again. Or vice versa, the weather can improve. The window of opportunity to complete a good lap at Spa is always quite narrow.

      In 2018, I saw that many other drivers made mistakes and went off the track, so I just tried to complete a full lap, and it turned out quite well – I showed the third time. When conditions allow, you need to attack with full force, but when they are difficult, you just need to try to put everything together.

      Question: In the past, you performed well both in the rain and in changing weather conditions. How do you prepare for such races, and can your strong qualities manifest in such cases?

      Esteban Ocon: In fact, I have never had a car that allowed me to show high results on a dry track – I think that's why I managed to achieve something on wet asphalt. I tried to take advantage of the opportunities that arise in such conditions.

      When the rain starts, it can level the playing field – this doesn't happen all the time, but sometimes it does.

      Question: Your move to Haas F1 was also confirmed at Spa – that was in July 2024. Has much changed since then?

      Esteban Ocon: A lot is happening, and my career resembles a roller coaster. Of course, there have been both joyful moments and unpleasant ones. In Spa in 2024, we had a long conversation with Ayo Komatsu, and we decided to sign the contract. I was very happy to move to Haas; we continue to work hard, trying to achieve improvements, and I enjoy working in this team. There are talented and goal-oriented people here, and if we keep pushing, the results will come.

      Question: You have been racing in Formula 1 for ten years now – which cars did you enjoy driving the most?

      Esteban Ocon: Probably the ones we raced in 2017 and 2021. In 2016, the cars were narrow, poorly held the track, and it was not easy to drive. But in 2017, they became wider, allowed for much faster cornering, and the engines were also quite good then.

      But the process of evolution continued, and the fastest cars were those of 2021. They had everything at a high level – grip, speed, the ability to attack curbs. I think many drivers would agree that those years were the best.

      Question: The race in Spa will soon alternate with other stages – how important is it to keep historical tracks in Formula 1?

      Esteban Ocon: It is extremely important! Tracks like Spa are the foundation of Formula 1; they are the soul of our sport. We fell in love with racing thanks to historical tracks, and it's very sad that races on them will be held on a rotation basis, but at least they will remain on the calendar.

      Question: Do you have a particularly favorite section of the Spa circuit?

      Esteban Ocon: I like the section consisting of fast corners that starts after Pouhon, where there are several changes of direction. It is important to prepare perfectly for the second corner of this section, trying not to exit it too wide; you need to position the car correctly on the track at the beginning of the long straight after the 16th corner. Navigating this sequence of corners is a pleasure!