Esteban Ocon is only 22 years old but his upcoming multi-year deal to race for Renault marks his third stint with the manufacturer’s team at Enstone.
Back in 2014 Ocon was part of the Lotus F1 junior scheme, which was run in collaboration with Gravity Sports Management, and its backing proved fruitful as the youngster claimed the European Formula 3 Championship.
Ocon’s performances earned him a two-day test in Lotus’ race-winning 2012-spec E20 at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit, and the outfit was suitably impressed to hand Ocon an FP1 outing.
That practice run came at the season-closing Abu Dhabi Grand Prix as Ocon – running the #31 that he would choose as his permanent number – got behind the wheel of the twin-tusked E22.
He was then afforded a full day of running in the E22 during the traditional post-season test at the venue.
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Lotus had expected to hand a test/reserve role to Ocon for 2015 but instead reigning GP2 Champion Jolyon Palmer took up the position, as Lotus’ junior scheme collapsed.
It left Ocon facing an uncertain future as a potential deal to race for DAMS in GP2 went by the wayside, while options in World Series by Renault also dwindled.
Mercedes-Benz, whose engines Ocon had used in his title-winning Formula 3 campaign, stepped in and supported the youngster in the GP3 Series, where he secured a plum ART seat.
The manufacturer picked up its option on Ocon in November and 24 hours later he sealed the GP3 title, with Mercedes placing the Frenchman in DTM for 2016.
Renault, meanwhile, had grown tired of its lack of recognition for its prior success with Red Bull and opted to return to Formula 1 full-time, acquiring the financially-stricken Lotus outfit, which it had previously owned from 2001 through 2009.
Mercedes was keen to enhance Ocon’s Formula 1 experience where possible and reached an agreement that enabled him to be loaned to Renault as its test and reserve driver.
Ocon acted as back-up to Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer, sitting in on meetings, under the tutelage of Frederic Vasseur, who had been his team boss at ART the previous year.
Ocon had a full day in the R.S.16 during in-season Barcelona testing and also had four outings in free practice sessions.
When Formula 1 returned to action after the summer break Ocon had swapped the yellow of Renault for the orange-and-blue of Manor, with Mercedes recalling him in order to replace Rio Haryanto in a race seat, ending his second spell at the Enstone-based team.
Ocon competed for Force India through 2017 and 2018 before losing his seat to Lance Stroll in the wake of the takeover by the Canadian's father, Lawrence.
Now, five-and-a-half-years after his first outing for the team – and 12 months on from his high-profile rejection in the silliest of silly seasons – Ocon can gear up for his third stint with the team.
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