Renault F1 Team chooses Ocon to replace Hulkenberg in 2020

Renault F1 Team confirms today that 22-year-old Frenchman Esteban Ocon will join the team for the 2020 Formula 1 World Championship season, replacing Nico Hulkenberg and joining forces with Daniel Ricciardo.

Ocon is joining Renault F1 Team on a multiple-year contract. In a fact, he is returning to Renault because he previously served as Renault’s reserve driver in 2016 before he made an F1 debut later that year with Manor Racing.

In 2017, Ocon joined Sahara Force India and stayed with the team for two seasons, collecting many points and recording fifth place as the best result. In 2019, Ocon joined Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team as a reserve driver. Earlier in a career, young Esteban was the champion in the 2014 FIA European Formula 3 Championship and 2015 GP3 Series.

Esteban Ocon

Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal Renault F1 Team: “We are very happy to work with Esteban for the next two seasons. Over his F1 career, Esteban has experienced the highs and lows of the sport and fully understood the need to seize every possible chance. In addition to lending his natural talent, Esteban’s aim will be to focus his natural energy and drive, both of which have been intensified by a year away from racing. It is then up to us to infuse them into the next phase of the team’s progress.

“He has shown his ability to score points, has great professionalism on and off the track, plus his recent experience as reserve driver to the current world champions will be a valuable asset to the development of our entire team.

“I wish to thank Nico for his phenomenal involvement and massive contribution to our progress over the past three seasons. When Nico decided to join us, the team was ninth. He brought us to fourth place last year and was classified seventh in the drivers’ championship. The imminent end of his contract made this decision a difficult one as Nico has been a pillar of this progress. The first part of this season has been more challenging, but I know we can count on him and deliver together throughout the second half of the year.”

Esteban Ocon: “First and foremost, I am very proud to become a Renault driver. I have grown up at Enstone, starting with Lotus in 2010 and then with Renault. I am very attached to this team and everyone who works therethey are the ones who opened the doors of top level motorsport for me. Secondly, I am pleased that a team with big ambitions has entrusted me with the opportunity to once again demonstrate my skills at the highest level of F1. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. The confidence they have in me to help the progression of the team is a very positive pressure and I look forward to giving the best of myself.”