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FROM THE SEASONED VETERAN TO the hopeful debutant and all points on the career trajectory in between, stability is a commodity all Formula 1 drivers covet. For those looking to gain a foothold in F1 that usually means a manufacturer team’s junior academy or a wealthy benefactor – even the most talented prospect might not be able to flourish without powerful support and investment.
That’s something Esteban Ocon has rarely been able to rely on. He’s seen a lot that most Formula 1 drivers haven’t. He’s lived out of a caravan with his parents, who sold their family home to keep him karting. He’s faced uncertainty in junior series despite a stunning record (it is often overlooked that he beat Max Verstappen to the European F3 title). Twice in F1 he’s raced for teams operating on the edge of financial oblivion, and slipped through the cracks in the driver market as a result – at one point spending a year on the sidelines.
But Ocon’s resilience has paid off. With Alpine he’s found a home for the long-term, a status now expressed in black-and-white in the form of a three-year contract, signed and announced in June, which binds him to the French team until at least the end of 2024.
Ocon has therefore joined a
