SUMMARY
- Esteban Ocon, a remarkable performer for Alpine since 2021, debuted with Manor Racing in 2016.
- Despite humble beginnings, Ocon's parents sold their house to fund his racing career, showing immense belief in his talent.
French driver Esteban Ocon remains away from the limelight but on the contrary, his performance on the track is simply remarkable. Driving for Alpine since 2021 alongside drivers like Fernando Alonso, he has made a name for himself. In 2016, he debuted in Formula 1 with Manor Racing, showcasing adaptability and consistently outperforming teammates.
The Frenchman hails from Évreux, a quaint commune in Normandy. He started his career in motorsports like any other driver on the grid, from karting. However, Ocon swiftly advanced through Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula 3 European Championship, landing him a total of nine championship wins. Nonetheless, all this success came from many years of struggle, sacrifice, and endurance.
Humble beginnings of Esteban Ocon
It was not easy for Ocon’s middle-class yet hardworking parents to fund his racing career. His father, Laurent Ocon worked as a mechanic and had set up a garage business in their native city. However, Laurent and his wife, Sabrina were so confident in his talent that they took a significant risk by selling their house to finance his future in motorsports.
Este é Esteban Ocon ao lado de seus pais. A história deste francês é bem particular para um esporte com tanto dinheiro envolvido
Laurent e Sabrina venderam a casa e foram viver em uma van com o filho. Motivo? Bancar o sonho de um garotinho de 11 anos que andava de kart pic.twitter.com/0c4bocjMIX
— Vinícius Moura (@vinicius_moura) August 1, 2021
According to Esteban Ocon, “My parents were believing in me and they knew I had the talent to do it. I’d finish a weekend (of racing), (caravan) stopped in front of the school, slept there, hear the ring of the school, wake up, go into school. So we were (parked) just in front of the school. I was 11 or 12 or something. I was happy to live in the caravan back then…was enjoying my life, I was doing karting all the time and it was awesome for me.”
Unfortunately, the 27-year-old driver has not renewed his contract with Alpine which is slated to end by the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Revealed: Frenchman’s Alpine contract earnings
The former Force India driver earns approximately $6 million annually, which includes bonuses, from his ongoing contract. Ocon’s estimated net worth stands at a hefty $21 million, as reported by GiveMeSport. Having penned a new three-season deal with Alpine in June 2021, the driver secured his future in the sport until 2024.
Additionally, his prominence in the sporting world has attracted lucrative endorsements and sponsorships, which has strengthened his earnings further. Ocon’s collaborations include partnerships with Castrol, Infiniti, MAPFRE, Dupont, Microsoft, and many more. Drawing parallels with legendary French racers, Ocon has solidified his status as a prominent figure.
However, the Frenchman did not earn his maiden victory until the Hungarian Grand Prix of 2021. Despite his utmost efforts to secure a podium in 2023, he, like most drivers, found himself outperformed by reigning champion Max Verstappen.
