As F1 heads into the 2025 Austrian GP weekend, Esteban Ocon arrives with momentum following a strong performance in Montreal, where he secured valuable points for Haas with a ninth-place finish. Speaking during Thursday’s Media Day Press Conference at the Red Bull Ring, the Frenchman offered a measured reflection on his recent form, addressing the ongoing challenge of competing in an intensely competitive midfield amid increasingly complex racing regulations. Fresh from celebrating Haas’ 200th Grand Prix in Canada, Ocon and the Kannapolis-based team remain focused on building consistency, with the 28-year-old determined to seize every opportunity as the season approaches its midpoint.
Ocon not surprised by strong performance in Canada
Reflecting on his weekend in Montreal, Ocon said he was not surprised by his ninth-place finish, emphasising Haas’s tendency to show stronger pace in race conditions than in qualifying. He credited the result to a well-executed strategy and noted that he was able to compete with faster rivals throughout the GP.
“By surprise, no,” Ocon stated when asked if he had been caught out by his result at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. “But we knew that our race pace was going to be better than our Quali pace. It’s usually the case. So, we did a really good strategy. I was very happy with that. Managed to fight with Carlos the whole race as well, which was a good surprise because we thought they were going to be quite a lot quicker than us.”
Ocon also highlighted the significance of scoring points during Haas’ 200th Grand Prix, although the celebrations were delayed by a lengthy post-race review. Nevertheless, he expressed relief that the outcome remained intact after scrutiny from the Stewards.
“But yeah, it was very nice for our 200th Grand Prix that we managed to score some points. Took a while because there were a lot of decisions happening after the race in the FIA’s room, but it was all good in the end. We sealed the points, which was a good thing.”
Maximising every opportunity in a tight midfield
Ocon acknowledged that while scoring points in Formula 1 may appear routine from the outside, capitalising on every opportunity in such a fiercely competitive midfield is far from easy. He emphasised the importance of making each result count, particularly when margins between teams are incredibly small.
“I think it can go wrong very easily, but so far, definitely when we had the performance, we were sealing the opportunities,” he explained. “In such a tight midfield, you need to be taking these points every time—even if it’s one or two—because you never know when someone’s going to have a great weekend and you suddenly recover all your loss in one go.”
Although the points haul in Montreal may have seemed modest, Ocon placed high value on the result. He likened it to a podium for Haas, given the current level of competition, and turned his focus to maintaining that form in the 2025 F1 Austrian GP.
“So yeah, it can only seem like two points, but I’m not going to say it’s a victory, but it’s almost like a podium for us. It was a pretty strong race, and we need to keep that going, see how the car feels this weekend. It’s an interesting track always, and the team has done well historically here. So, we’ll see if our VF-25 will work well here.”
Good results not guaranteed despite Haas’ record at the Red Bull Ring
Although Haas has enjoyed strong results at the Red Bull Ring in recent seasons—including a double points finish in 2024—Esteban Ocon remains cautious about relying too heavily on past performances. While he acknowledged the value of historical data, he stressed that actual competitiveness would only become clear once the cars hit the track.
“We will see. I think it’s been great that the team had good races historically, but it’s good preparation because you can rely quite a lot on some data and what the team has done last year in terms of work,” he said.
However, Ocon warned against overconfidence, pointing out that the team must stay grounded and focus on adapting to real-time conditions in the 2025 F1 Austrian GP.
“But we need to see when we put the car down in FP1, see how we are compared to the others and not arrive too confident, obviously.”
Consistency still a key challenge for Haas ahead of the 2025 F1 Austrian GP
Ocon admitted that Haas, like much of the midfield, has faced difficulties delivering consistent performances from one weekend to the next. He pointed to the extraordinary competitiveness of the 2025 field as the main factor behind this unpredictability.
“Yes. It’s a very good question because this is what we are trying to improve—our consistency in terms of performance,” he said. “The issue is how close the field is, especially in the midfield. One tenth can be three or four positions, or can make you go into Q2 or not, or can make you go into Q3. That’s the difficulty.”
He compared today’s margins to those of previous years, where a small pace deficit did not always translate to a significant drop in grid position. In contrast, he explained, every detail now matters—particularly in Qualifying, where the field is more compressed than ever.
“A couple of years ago, you could be two or three tenths slower but still keep your position compared to one team or another. Now it really is about nailing the lap, nailing the set-up, and getting everything under control. If your car is not suiting the track well, you clearly have no chance in Qualifying.”
Elevation poses unique challenges at the Red Bull Ring
Ocon highlighted the significant impact of the Red Bull Ring’s elevation on both the car and driver. He noted that, after Mexico, it is one of the highest-altitude circuits on the calendar, which presents unique challenges, especially concerning brake wear and temperature management.
“Yeah, it’s true. I think it’s one of the highest altitude tracks after Mexico—probably the second highest. This is quite hard for us in terms of brake wear, in terms of temperature in general—for the car, for the engine. It’s tough on every component of the car. We’ve seen in the past some teams struggling with this and having reliability problems,” Ocon explained.
Ocon added that cooler weather forecast for the 2025 F1 Austrian GP weekend should ease some of these difficulties.
Red Bull Ring “a really cool circuit”
In terms of driving, Ocon encouraged fans to experience the track in person, saying that the true nature of the elevation is hard to appreciate on television. He described Turn 3 as a particular highlight, where braking distances are notably shorter than typical hairpins.
“When you go and have a run with your team around the circuit, I can tell you that Turn 3 is quite a big one. For us, it is as well. When we’re in the car, you brake super late—it’s almost like 65 metres to take a hairpin, which normally would be more like 100 metres or 90. For these guys, it’s 50.”
He praised the circuit’s iconic status and noted that recent adjustments to track limits, such as bringing gravel closer, have enhanced the racing experience.
“But yeah, it’s a really cool circuit. It’s iconic. It’s a bit of a shame in the past that track limits have been such a topic, but now with the gravel being put closer, I think it’s really a good sensation around here.”
Ocon welcomes greater transparency in stewarding
Ocon welcomed the recent publication of the FIA Steward Guidelines for Penalties and Driving Standards, ahead of the 2025 F1 Austrian GP, admitting he had assumed the document was already public.
“I think so. I mean, I thought that was public already before,” he said. Upon learning the guidelines were newly available to the wider public, he added, “So it is news to me. But yeah, I think that’s a very good thing that it’s transparent for everyone.”
Navigating complex rules on race day
When asked about the current state of Formula 1’s racing regulations, Ocon acknowledged the sport’s extensive rulebook but stressed that the core racing rules remain clear. However, he highlighted how numerous nuanced regulations can create unexpected challenges during a race weekend.
“Yeah, I mean, there are a lot of rules, that’s for sure. I think the racing aspect is quite straightforward for us and very clear, but it’s all the little side things—like what happened, for example, at the exit of the pit lane with that double yellow flag with me and Carlos. That was not that straightforward and a bit of a surprise for all of us. That caught Carlos by surprise as well.”
He explained how such complexities can lead to difficult stewarding decisions and lengthy post-race reviews, adding to the pressure on drivers and teams.
“So yeah, it’s all these little things on top of an already complicated situation that can lead to difficult scenarios and going to the Stewards and having long decisions and all of this. In the end, I think the FIA took all the right decisions. They knew it was side things and small things not leading to any consequences. It was quite straightforward before I went to the FIA’s room, but it’s always a stressful moment—especially when you get a result which means something. So yeah, the next three hours after the race were quite long for me and the team.”
