Esteban Ocon has been told to set himself “realistic goals” as he tries to match what Renault calls a “real benchmark” in Daniel Ricciardo.
The Frenchman’s return to Formula 1 hasn’t quite lived up to the hype that some had built based on his impressive two seasons at Force India, with Ocon currently 27 points behind his teammate in the Drivers’ Championship.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, it has been qualifying where the rust has shown with Ricciardo ahead in every session bar the wet second Saturday in Austria.
But, as team Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged, Ocon is having to compete against an Aussie who is back near his best.
“Daniel is a very strong driver, you don’t have to explain that to anyone,” he told Auto Motor und Sport.
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“He has become even stronger this year because the car has got better and the cooperation with the engineers has improved.
“The rear of the car has become more stable and that gives Daniel more confidence.
“Esteban is slowly coming back after a one-year break, but he is not as far away from Daniel as it might seem,” the Frenchman added.
“[However,] he has to accept that Daniel is a real benchmark, and he has to set himself realistic goals.”
Certainly, though Ocon has had his moments, such as good, if slightly bold, battles with Ricciardo in Austria and last time out in Sochi, but the Renault chief doesn’t mind that.
“It shows me that he is attacking, that he wants more,” he said.
“I prefer that to a driver who simply accepts the status quo and the hierarchy in the team. I think the end of the season will still be a hot battle between our two drivers.”
The big question will be how Ocon copes when Fernando Alonso, a man known for ruining teammates, steps in alongside him in 2021.