New Renault feels “well-born” – Ocon

Esteban Ocon was encouraged by his first run in the Renault RS20 and says he fits well in the car despite his height.

[smr2020test]The new Renault driver, who shook down the team’s 2020 chassis on Monday, said his first proper test in the car yesterday was “really good.”

“We completed our morning program which was nice, without any issues, and the car feels very good to start with,” he said in response to a question from RaceFans. “It feels well-born. It is predictable. I think it’s a solid base to start with.”

Ocon is returning to racing this year having spent 2019 as Mercedes’ reserve driver. “There’s not a lot of difference because you’re still trying to improve the car as much as you can and giving the most precise feedback to make it better,” he said.

“The big difference is that most of the stuff is made for me this time. Last year, some of the stuff I couldn’t do it because it was not going to be useful for the team.”

At 1.86 metres, Ocon is one of the tallest driver in Formula 1. Images of him driving the car yesterday showed his helmet sits higher in the cockpit relative to the Halo than some other drivers. However he said he is comfortable in the strikingly slim-nosed car and has passed the mandatory legality checks and cockpit exit test.

“I’m legal and I have a really good position in the car,” he said. “I had the FIA test yesterday for the jump out, everything. So I’m clearing nicely and I feel good, I have a good position. So that’s nice.”

“I feel very comfortable,” he added. “The parts where it is narrow in the front, my legs are not in there! So that’s okay. I feel good, we’ve worked on the position the whole winter.”

[f1tv2020testc]

2020 F1 season

• Pictures: Wrecked chassis from Grosjean’s Bahrain fireball crash to go on display
• Bottas vs Rosberg: Hamilton’s Mercedes team mates compared after 78 races each
• F1 revenues fell by $877 million in Covid-struck 2020 season
• Hamilton and Mercedes finally announce new deal for 2021 season
• F1 audience figures “strong” in 2020 despite dip in television viewers