Esteban Ocon: “I consider myself among the finest, and I’m not hesitant to express it.”
Haas Formula 1 pilot Esteban Ocon has consistently voiced confidence in his capabilities, and he now feels justified by his performance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Finishing in eighth place in Baku represented Ocon’s best result of 2026 during a season where the French driver frequently faced challenges due to the inconsistency of Haas’ car components – a problem that has reportedly affected him more than his teammate Oliver Bearman, although recent improvements have been noted.
Ocon is now conscious that he is likely on the verge of losing his position in 2027 and felt considerable frustration after being impeded by a yellow flag during qualifying in Baku, which explains his jubilant reaction post-race.
“Super happy with the result,” he remarked after being narrowly beaten to seventh by Arvid Lindblad by just 0.03s. “When the car is functioning well, that’s what we deserve.”
“We had a strong car from the start of the weekend, we made all the right choices regarding the pit stop and the safety car. I executed the same maneuver I did in Zandvoort, just before the line, so that was really satisfying as well. And again, I gained two positions into Turn 2.”
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
“So, yes, it’s been a really, really great race, and I’m really pleased with the outcome. I think it brings good, positive energy for everyone as we move forward into that triple-header.”
“We're heading into a very challenging circuit with plenty of high-speed corners,” he said regarding the forthcoming Sepang track. “And we’ve shown that we have a car that is quite competitive. It should lead to two thrilling races for us, and I'm eager for them.”
When asked by Motorsport.com if this felt like a form of redemption during his challenging times, Ocon replied: “I can say I deserve that – not all the other crap.”
He further noted, interestingly echoing his words to broadcasters almost verbatim in the TV pen: “I’ve raced with everyone out there, you know? And I've always been competitive.”
“I’ve won every championship in which I’ve competed. I’ve won races in Formula Renault, clinched titles in go-karts, triumphed in [European] Formula 3, claimed victory in GP3, I was racing in the top 10 in DTM for half a season, and I have won in Formula 1. I can do it, you know?”
“I’m among the best out there, and I'm not hesitant to say it.”
Aside from his “I’ve won every championship” assertion, which he quickly clarified, Ocon’s statement holds mostly true. The only possible discrepancy might be his half-season in DTM back in 2016, as he managed to finish in the top 10 only once in 10 races, having spent 18% of all his racing laps in those positions.
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