Esteban Ocon is settling in faster than expected at Haas: He talks about his collaboration with the engineers and his first impressions of the car
Esteban Ocon already feels well integrated into the team after his move to Haas. In particular, the technical exchange with the engineers is working better than expected. “I thought it would be difficult, but it went much smoother than expected,” says the Frenchman.
He feels comfortable during the test drives. “It’s very positive to finally get the first real feel for the car,” says Ocon. “I already raced at Silverstone, but unfortunately it snowed there, so those weren’t the conditions we had hoped for.” Now he was able to test the car under real conditions for the first time.
The Haas car has clear strengths in some areas. “There are many positive points that are better than what I had last in Abu Dhabi,” he explains. But at the same time, it is already clear where improvements are still needed. “We quickly realized where we still need to improve. I also told Oli and the team about that. They are now working on it.”
In particular, the focus on long runs is a new approach for him. “It’s a new way for me to approach testing, but it’s good to do a lot of laps and collect a lot of data,” he says. He is also pleased that he was able to complete more laps than any other driver on the first day of testing.
Balance, grip and the new steering wheel
Despite the positive impressions, Ocon still sees some weaknesses. “There are a few things with the balance and grip in certain corners,” he reveals. “But the car has very good potential, which is the most important thing.” Overall, the grip level is where it should be. “Of course, there are always small areas where you can improve,” he emphasizes.
The steering wheel was a bigger change. “I got a completely new steering wheel with two clutch paddles,” says Ocon. “I tried it the other way, but that was difficult for me.” In particular, driving out of the pit lane and making pit stops was problematic with just one paddle. “If you only have one paddle on the right-hand side, how do you do it? You have to hold your arm differently, and that’s very impractical.”
The team quickly fulfilled his wish. ‘They gave me an extra Christmas present,’ he says with a smile. ”Such changes usually take a lot of time, but it’s very good that it happened so quickly.” The team has also incorporated his long-standing preferences for other technical details on the steering wheel. “There are a few things I’ve been using for almost ten years, even from my time at Force India,” says Ocon.
Adapting to the new team
Switching to a new team always brings challenges. “There are many things you have to adapt to,” explains Ocon. “And if that’s not possible, then you have to change things.” Communication is essential. “We have discussed how we express things so that we really understand each other,” he says. “Because if you say the same thing but don’t understand each other, you won’t make any progress.”
The way of working at Haas is different from his previous stations. ‘It’s different from what I’m used to,’ says Ocon. The processes are also unfamiliar. ”I have adjusted my seat in three different places: first in Dallara, then in Maranello and finally in Bunbury.”
Despite the differences, Ocon quickly felt at home at Haas. “It was easier to settle in than I expected,” he says. Now the focus is on further improving the car and preparing optimally for the new season.
