Esteban Ocon can’t wait for Formula 1’s first street race since Singapore 2019 at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.
Due to Covid-19, all city-based events were cancelled last year, including Monte Carlo for the first time since 1954. But now F1 is set for back-to-back street tracks with Baku also returning in two weeks time.
For Ocon, the wait has been even longer, so it’s unsurprising he’s chomping at the bit in the Principality.
“Yes, it’s been a while, unfortunately, I missed 2019 and we didn’t have the race on the calendar unfortunately in 2020,” he said via Formula1.com on Wednesday.
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“So back for the first time in quite a long time on a street circuit – on one of the best as well – which is Monaco, so I think being here, I can only have a smile.
“Seeing also this weekend, the fans back and seeing the supporters around, it is pretty special interacting with them – staying socially distanced – but seeing the people supporting us makes a huge difference, so I’m pretty happy.”
Ocon is also enthused by the recent improvements from Alpine, with the Frenchman scoring points in the past three races.
And he hopes to extend that run in Monaco.
“One weekend doesn’t follow another but we are going to be looking to follow our form this race,” he said. “We’ve been making huge progress, so I’m pretty pleased with that.
“In Barcelona, the car felt fantastic in qualifying. We still have a bit of work to do in race pace but here the important [thing] is qualifying, in the end. That’s where you have to position yourself so let’s see what we can do.
“We are usually pretty good in the low-speed corners but this weekend we will confirm if that is the case,” he concluded.
As for teammate Fernando Alonso, he also hasn’t raced on a street circuit since 2018 and notes how important track time will be in Monte Carlo.
“It’s a little bit shorter practice this year compared with previously, so we have to maximise every lap and have a smooth weekend because if you stop the car in one of the practices it will put you on the back foot,” the Spaniard noted.
“So it’s a challenge for everyone and we should be ready.
“I’m quite optimistic now from what I felt in the car in the first four races. I think it could adapt quite well to Monaco, but you never know,” he added.
“It’s a place where you need to build confidence as well. You have to be able to attack, you have to trust the car.
“That’s something you only discover when you’re in the middle of practice, so I’m a little bit curious to see what is our level of trust in the car, but I’m optimistic.”