Esteban Ocon appeared to really feel that he has put himself firmly within the store window of Formulation 1 after main a double-points end for Haas within the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The Frenchman confirmed a summer time of hypothesis by admitting he’s presently a “free agent” upon arrival in Baku, amid recent rumours he’s set to get replaced by Formulation 2 title-leader Rafael Camara on the American squad.
However the indicators of a revitalisation for Ocon and the Haas workforce had been robust after good tempo was proven in free observe, however a yellow flag in Q2 noticed him miss out on a possible Q3 look.
Agonisingly lacking out on the prospect to affirm a spot within the high 10 left Ocon chopping a depressing determine, with the hope of turning it into one thing good on race day.
And amid a chaotic double-Security Automobile look, that’s precisely what he and teammate Ollie Bearman did, ending eighth, which might have been seventh however for being pipped on the road by Arvid Lindblad.
However it didn’t take something away from Ocon, who instructed media after the race: “I can say I deserved that, not all the remainder of the shit.”
When requested if he felt vindicated in his personal self-belief in producing good outcomes when the automobile is aggressive, the 2021 Hungarian GP winner strongly affirmed that he did.
“Yeah. I’ve raced with everybody on the market, and I’ve all the time been on par,” he stated. “I’ve gained each championship that I’ve raced with.
“I’ve gained races in Formulation Renault, I’ve gained championships in go-karts, I’ve gained Formulation 3, I’ve gained GP3. I used to be racing within the high 10 in DTM for half a season, I gained in Formulation 1.
“I can do it. I’m among the finest on the market, and I’m not afraid to say it.”
With the vast majority of groups now confirmed for 2027, Ocon’s choices seem like presently dwindling, however his Baku displaying will put groups in each F1 and wider sequence on discover that the expertise continues to be very a lot there.
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