It takes a special driver to arrive in his first full year in Formula One in a car that isn't regarded as the best of the rest and get it constantly in the point and that's exactly what Force India's Esteban Ocon has done. We caught up with the Frenchman ahead of Silverstone.
Last season Esteban Ocon was an unknown driver who stepped into the Manor F1 car in the second half of the season, replacing Rio Haryanto to get his first drive in the elite motor sport.
The 20 year-old impressed the bosses at Sahara Force India enough to take the seat vacated by Nico Hülkenberg to team up with experienced Mexican Sergio Perez in the newly pinked team.
Ocon has quickly impressed with Force India. Image: PA
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Force India have been fighting their way from the back of the grid since their first season in 2008 and have become a very competitive team and this season they have stepped it up and are the fourth best team on the grid so far this year, behind only the big four.
Ahead of the British Grand Prix this weekend we caught up with Ocon and the youngster was in chatty mood as he and Josh Denzel walked the infamous track:
The 20 year-old has an extremely promising future in the sport and is part of the Mercedes drivers programme and has won titles at Formula 3 and GP3 level as well as finishing second in the Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters.
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Ocon struggled in qualifying early in the season as the car didn't show its full potential but he's had impressive race pace since the beginning of the season and is ever improving.
After poor runs in testing in Barcelona the pair of Force India's finished fifth and sixth in the Spanish Grand Prix. Image: PA
He started the season by winning points in the first five races before an unfortunate race in Monaco cut his scoring run earlier than the team would have hoped for in a tricky weekend.
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The Frenchman has recovered with points in the following three races.
In his sites next will be closing the points gap to teammate Perez and then, who knows...
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Formula One, F1