As one of Formula 1‘s emerging stars, Esteban Ocon, his passion for racing has led him to the top of the motorsport world. But climbing up this ladder was not an easy journey for him. The Alpine driver talked openly about the severe struggles his parents had to go through to support his racing dreams in a recent interview with a High-Performance podcast.
Esteban Ocon shares about his family’s sacrifices
The Frenchman’s family supported him throughout his early years of racing, even though they were going through financial difficulties themselves. During Ocon’s childhood, he comments about how he never really went to other kids’ birthday parties as a child and they hardly ever went on holidays or weekends with his parents.
Everything focused on training for the racecourse, he said,
“You know, I had a very different life compared to other kids.”
Ocon revealed in a heartfelt moment that his parents sold their house to support his racing ambitions. He said,
“I knew it in a way, but they protected me super well, you know, from that pressure, and I was just enjoying everything I was doing.”
Ocon expressed that his parents’ deep affection and commitment made them closer as a family, while also recognizing the heavy burden they carried. Despite facing financial difficulties, the Frenchman’s parents had faith in his abilities and encouraged him to excel both on and off the track. Ocon’s talent and firm determination allowed him to rise through the motorsport levels and eventually land a desired Formula 1 seat.
Ocon also pointed out on the value of communicating his emotions to his parents. As they traveled to many locations together and lived in a caravan, the Frenchman adores that they have learned to not hide their feelings from one another because of spending so much time together.
Despite a difficult road, Ocon remains grateful for the unwavering support of his parents, whose sacrifices laid the foundation for his success. His story shows us the power of love and the strength required to pursue one’s dreams against all odds.
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Fiza is a writer at The Sports Orbit, focusing on F1 coverage. She is currently pursuing her master’s in broadcasting journalism and has a profound love for motorsports. She finds F1 to be the most engaging among others due to its adrenaline rush. She got interested in the sport after watching an F1 race with her brother and uncle, and she’s been hooked ever since. Her favorite team is Mercedes and she is a fan of Lewis Hamilton. Besides her dedication to F1, she enjoys activities like reading, practicing her calligraphy skills, and experimenting with cooking.
