20/11/2014
NEWS STORY
Lotus junior driver Esteban Ocon will drive in FP1 at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The practice session outing for the FIA Formula 3 European Champion is the latest step in Ocon's driver development programme and comes following a successful two-day test in the team's 2012 E20 at the Valenciana in October.
Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he will also run in the final test of the season, taking place at the Yas Marina circuit. He will drive for the first day of the test with Lotus third driver Charles Pic driving on the second and final day.
"It is a fantastic opportunity for me to drive in my first session at a Grand Prix," said Ocon, "and I am tremendously grateful to Lotus F1 Team and Gravity Sport Management. The practice session on Friday will be my first time driving the Yas Marina circuit and my first time in the latest generation Formula 1 car, so there will be a lot to learn, especially as I will be completing the team's programme for the free practice session. For the test day we will have far more time me to learn and develop with the car so I'm really looking forward to Abu Dhabi."
"Esteban is a superb young talent and we are particularly excited to give him this opportunity," added Federico Gastaldi, Deputy Team Principal. "He impressed all our engineers when he drove for us in Valencia, but this will be another step in his development programme. It's great for us a team to support developing drivers, especially one with the potential of Esteban."