Autohebdo July 15, 2026 – Interview with Esteban Ocon
HAD YOU ALREADY RACED AGAINST HIM IN KARTING?
Many times, yes. We knew each other very well, and for a very long time. We competed in the same karting championships, and he beat me in the WSK championship (in 2011 - Ed.) where I finished 2nd. It was an opportunity to get my revenge. (Laughs) It was a great championship where I dominated at times, and he at others. He won 10 races and I won 9, but I had to take more pole positions (15 to 6). I remember at the Norisring, he won every race, and I did the same the next time. We were constantly trading blows.
That's the right word. (Laughs) It was pretty intense. That's something I always loved about Max: it was always hard, the battle was incredibly close, but it was always fair.
YET YOUR WHEELS TOUCHED MORE THAN ONCE...
Yes, but I liked it. So did he. I remember we had two race control marshals just for us, tasked with keeping an eye on us on the track. One on Max, one on me; to make sure things didn't get out of hand. In Moscow, we were practically touching wheels right up to the last corner before the finish line. It was actually that weekend that I managed to turn things around by winning all three races of the meeting, which allowed me to pull away in the championship. I clinched the title after the Imola round, and he finished third behind me.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT MAX BACK THEN?
Part of him hasn't changed. What has changed are the rules, which are now designed to prevent us from replicating on the track what we used to do in Formula 3. As a result, it's difficult to have a very specific style. You can, to a certain extent, but it's complicated with the "recommendations" of the sporting regulations we're given in Formula 1. I was generally faster in qualifying, and he was faster in the race. We were often on the edge, but we never crashed. I have to say that I thought before taking risks, he perhaps a little less so. We hated each other during the season, but off the track, it was OK.
BECAUSE OF YOUR SHARED HISTORY, IS THERE A DIFFERENT KIND OF RIVALRY BETWEEN YOU? PERHAPS A LITTLE MORE EXACERBATED...
That might have been true before... Now, we can't say we're in the same league. He finishes two laps ahead and is fighting for the podium. I'm battling for a handful of points. We're competing in the same race, but in two different categories. The rivalry was there when we could compete on equal terms. Now, that's no longer the case.
WE SENSE A BIT OF FRUSTRATION IN YOUR WORDS...
Absolutely not, on the contrary, I'm happy for him. What he's achieved is phenomenal. Today, he's doing what every driver dreams of doing: Grand Prix races and whatever else he enjoys. If I were in his position, I'd be competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Bathurst, I'd be driving on the Nordschleife. It's great for him. He is a very talented driver who deserves his success.
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