---
title: "Ocon feels ready ahead of Spa F1 debut"
canonical: "https://readmotorsport.com/2016/08/18/ocon-ready-ahead-spa-f1-debut/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Hamilton Lyndon-Griffiths"
section: "F1 News"
published: "2016-08-18T10:00:27Z"
modified: "2016-08-18T10:00:27Z"
---

# Ocon feels ready ahead of Spa F1 debut

New Manor driver Esteban Ocon says he is ready to make his Formula One bow in the Belgian Grand Prix next weekend, but admits he didn’t expect it to happen so soon.

Ocon was announced as Rio Harynato’s replacement after the Indonesian’s financial backing did not provide enough money to keep hold of his seat for the second half of the season.

Instead, the Frenchman, who will race under the number 31, will step in from Spa onwards in a bid to try and secure a seat for 2017.

Ocon is part of the Mercedes young driver programme and was loaned to Renault this year to get some FP1 outings and more milage under his belt.

Now the 19-year-old is preparing to become the 71st French driver in F1, and believes his preparation has made him feel confident he is ready to make the step.

“No, not at all,” when asked he expected to drive in F1 so early in his career. “But thanks to all the tests and my preparation this year, I feel ready for it. It’s helped me a lot.

![Charles Coates/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readmotorsport.com/readmotorsport/2016/08/584532026.jpg)

“I never thought that I would be offered this opportunity quite so soon. At the same time, I’m very happy about it and I’m looking forward immensely to my first Formula 1 race weekend in Belgium.”

Ocon adds that since the announcement he has been training hard to feel as comfortable as possible heading to Spa.

“It was nice to relax on vacation with friends,” he said. “It helped take my mind off things.

“But since the announcement was made, of course, I’ve also been training hard. The training isn’t all that different from in the DTM.

“I’m preparing as thoroughly as possible so that I’ll be ready for my first F1 race weekend. Before going to Spa, I will meet up with my new team again and we’ll go through all the details together.”