F1 EIFEL GP NURBURGRING : OCON IS OPTIMISTIC

For the first time in living memory Formula 1 is about to embark on a sequence of new or returning grands prix that will present a novel challenge for the paddock.

Prior to the Covid-19 coronavirus Formula 1 would have been gearing up for its traditional jaunt to paddock-favourite Suzuka, in Japan, ahead of the American leg in the United States, Mexico and Brazil.

The Nurburgring, which will run under the Eifel Grand Prix name courtesy of Hockenheim having dibs on the German Grand Prix tag, has never been run so late in the year.

Esteban Ocon is optimistic Renault will be strong at a “spicy” Eifel Grand Prix as the team looks to continue its fine form through to the end of the season.

Formula 1 returns to the Nürburgring for the first time since 2013 after the race was added to bolster a calendar severely depleted by Covid-19.

The forecast for this weekend, however, is for continual rain, fog patches and with temperatures in single figures. The recent 24-hour race at the circuit was red-flagged for seven hours due to conditions in the region Sebastian Vettel has described as “the German Siberia.”

Regardless of the circumstances, Ocon believes Renault can continue to apply further pressure on McLaren and Racing Point in the constructors’ battle, with just seven points separating the three teams in the battle for third.

Pointing to strong performances in winter testing as proof the RS20 works in all conditions, the Frenchman said: “I think it is going to be quite spicy.

“At the moment, it is eight degrees or something. I have a few friends who raced at the 24 hours of the Nürburgring and it doesn’t look too good.

“We are going there when it will be potentially even colder so it is going to be completely different, for the tyres, obviously, to get them to temperature, for the car set up and anything can happen going back to the north of Europe with a bit of rain and stuff.

“But we know we are quite capable of doing well in the rain. The car has been quite strong in Barcelona winter testing in the rain, I have qualified fifth in Austria in the rain so if it rains, we should be in decent shape as well.”

The team struggled at high-downforce circuits during the early stages of the season, but Ocon believes the team now has a handle on the problems.

“I think overall, the target is to be consistent everywhere,” he explained.

“At the moment we have a good understanding, in the last couple of races, with how to set up the car and where we could improve. We also had a few small upgrades which helped on our performance.

“I think, if we are going back to Budapest or Barcelona, I am not saying we would qualify fifth but I think things would have been different, as simple as that. We can extract more performance from the car now with the understanding we have got.”

F1 EIFEL GP NURBURGRING : OCON IS OPTIMISTIC F1 EIFEL GP NURBURGRING : OCON IS OPTIMISTIC

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