Formula 1 | Ocon wants to forget the emotion of his 1st victory in F1 in Hungary

A year after his first victory in Formula 1, Esteban Ocon returns to the scene of his greatest triumph.

After picking up a few extra points at his home Grand Prix in France, Esteban is looking forward to another prolific weekend in picturesque Budapest.

The team had a satisfying home race. How do you view your Grand Prix de France?

“The goal was to get both cars in the points, so we’re happy to have achieved that in front of our home crowd. Furthermore, we are now ahead of McLaren in fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship, which the team definitely deserves. Everyone’s hard work on the track, like in Enstone and Viry, is paying off and it’s proof that we are heading in the right direction. I would like to thank again all the fans who came out to support the team throughout the weekend. They were amazing and it’s definitely a home Grand Prix that I will remember for a long time. It is difficult for me to conceive of an F1 calendar without a Grand Prix in France, a country with such a heritage in motorsport. So I really hope we race in front of our fans again next year. »

We are back in Budapest this week, with all the memories that implies. How do you feel about this meeting?

“I feel good, and it will certainly be emotional to come back to Budapest. All the memories of last year are already resurfacing. But that was last year, and we need to be fully focused as a team to deliver another strong weekend. It will be important to approach the break with the feeling of having consolidated this fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship. We know it will be difficult, but we have the team and the tools to do it. We are going to give one last push before a well-deserved break for the team, which has worked very hard all year. »

We know Budapest is one of your favorite tours. What do you like the most about it?

“I really like this circuit, which is one of my favorites and not only because I won there! I appreciate the second sector, its speed and its fluidity. It’s like there’s no downtime from turn 4 to turn 11. And if your settings are right, this sequence can be very enjoyable and feel like you’re pulling the quintessence of the car. It is a very pleasant circuit. On the other hand, overtaking may not be as easy as at other tracks, so a good performance in qualifying is essential for all teams. I also really like the city of Budapest. It’s always a pleasure to go back. We will aim to end this first half of the season in style. »