Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe
Autosport Plus

Why Ocon should target an Alonso-like return

Is a year out such a bad thing? In most sports a whole season out of top-level competition is often a career-ending prospect. But Formula 1 provides shining examples - most notably Fernando Alonso - of how Esteban Ocon could make a triumphant return

Most drivers who set out on the road to Formula 1 never make it, and those that do find it almost as hard to stay there as to get there in the first place. But the rarest of breeds is the returnee - the driver who arrives, disappears then returns triumphant. This is exactly what Esteban Ocon aspires to do, either by taking Valtteri Bottas's Mercedes seat or landing a deal with a rival team.

In elite sport, a year on the sidelines is regarded as disastrous for career momentum. Losing a year when you have a relatively short competitive shelf-life is never a good thing, but it's not necessarily the body blow some believe it to be. If Ocon is frustrated, he just needs to look to the example of a certain Fernando Alonso.

Previous article "Not much more" Honda can do to secure its Formula 1 future
Next article Pirelli's race against time to save 'the show'

More from Edd Straw

Archive: When the French GP almost produced F1's greatest shock

Archive: When the French GP almost produced F1's greatest shock

F1 Formula 1
Archive: When the French GP almost produced F1's greatest shock Archive: When the French GP almost produced F1's greatest shock
Autosport 70: How Scheckter instigated Silverstone's most famous F1 incident

Autosport 70: How Scheckter instigated Silverstone's most famous F1 incident

F1 Formula 1
Autosport 70: How Scheckter instigated Silverstone's most famous F1 incident Autosport 70: How Scheckter instigated Silverstone's most famous F1 incident
Autosport 70: The lost F1 team that launched Newey

Autosport 70: The lost F1 team that launched Newey

F1 Formula 1
Autosport 70: The lost F1 team that launched Newey Autosport 70: The lost F1 team that launched Newey
Why Haas's shocking 2019 should have F1 worried

Why Haas's shocking 2019 should have F1 worried

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
Why Haas's shocking 2019 should have F1 worried Why Haas's shocking 2019 should have F1 worried
How Kubica found the answer to his own incredible F1 challenge

How Kubica found the answer to his own incredible F1 challenge

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
How Kubica found the answer to his own incredible F1 challenge How Kubica found the answer to his own incredible F1 challenge
The real step that ended McLaren's F1 nightmare

The real step that ended McLaren's F1 nightmare

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
The real step that ended McLaren's F1 nightmare The real step that ended McLaren's F1 nightmare
2019's Albon, Norris and Russell are 2001's Montoya, Raikkonen and Alonso

2019's Albon, Norris and Russell are 2001's Montoya, Raikkonen and Alonso

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
2019's Albon, Norris and Russell are 2001's Montoya, Raikkonen and Alonso 2019's Albon, Norris and Russell are 2001's Montoya, Raikkonen and Alonso
How Toro Rosso gave Renault a major scare

How Toro Rosso gave Renault a major scare

Plus
Plus
F1 Formula 1
How Toro Rosso gave Renault a major scare How Toro Rosso gave Renault a major scare

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe