After a solid race at Suzuka, Esteban Ocon finally opens his account in 2026, despite further bad luck related to the safety car.
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On the demanding track of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix, Esteban Ocon finally opened his account this season. Tenth at the finish, the Haas driver leaves with a well-deserved point after two frustrating opening rounds.
The Frenchman built this result thanks to a particularly aggressive first part of the race. From the opening laps, he was incisive in the pack, stringing together overtakes and showing a solid pace against competitors who were better equipped on paper.
“It was a good first part of the race, I tried to follow Max at the start, I managed to move up and overtake several cars, we were well positioned” he explains.
A promising start that suggested much more than a simple tenth place at the finish.
A Safety Car at the worst moment
But as is often the case in motorsport, success also depends on timing. And once again, luck did not smile on Ocon. The accident of Oliver Bearman caused a safety car intervention, disrupting the strategies in progress.
For the Frenchman, this neutralization came at the worst moment, ruining his hopes for a better result.
“The Safety Car didn’t come at the right time. Three times in three races, bad timing for me!” he regrets.
This stroke of fate forced him to lower his ambitions, even though he was ideally placed to aim higher in the hierarchy.
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Stuck in traffic, a persistent frustration
After his stop, Ocon found himself trapped behind Liam Lawson, unable to find a way through despite a competitive pace. This situation prevented him from fighting with drivers like Pierre Gasly or Max Verstappen, who he felt were within reach.
“I came out stuck behind Liam and I was no longer in the battle with Pierre and Max. I think we could have held them off” he analyzes.
Despite this frustration, the Haas driver takes away the positives: a solid performance and a first point that finally kicks off his season.
“We maximized our pace and it’s encouraging for the future” he adds.
A welcome break to recharge the batteries
After this intense start to the season, Formula 1 will take an unusual break, a consequence of the cancellation of several Grands Prix. An opportunity that the Frenchman intends to exploit to come back stronger.
“It will do everyone good to analyze these first races. We’ll see what worked or didn’t, and try to bring improvements to the car” he confides.
Beyond the technical aspect, Ocon also insists on the need to recover physically after three grueling weekends.
“We’ll be able to regain some energy. We don’t like the circumstances of this break, but it comes at the right time” he concludes.
A strategic break that could allow Haas and its driver to take a step forward upon the restart, with the clear objective of turning promises into more significant results.
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