MX23RW : Friday, May 3 09:30:16| >> :600:849474:849474:

F1 returning to racing 'important' - Ocon

F1 returning to racing 'important' - Ocon
© Reuters
Esteban Ocon has admitted his "huge disappointment" that he will not be able to contest his home grand prix in 2020.

Esteban Ocon has admitted his "huge disappointment" that he will not be able to contest his home grand prix in 2020.

French GP boss Eric Boullier has announced that because of the "decisions of the French state", racing at Paul Ricard this year is "impossible".

"Up to now, the upheaval in the calendar has been bearable," Frenchman Ocon, who was set to return to racing this year at Renault, told L'Equipe.

"But this one has been cancelled completely, and it's my grand prix!" he said. "Already last year, it weighed on me not to race at home, but now that I've found a car - a Renault, the Tricolour - it was going to be great.

"I tell you, it's a huge disappointment," he added.

Ocon made waves in Australia when he was photographed wearing a face mask prior to the cancellation of the Melbourne season opener.

But the 23-year-old insists he is in fact supportive of F1's return during the pandemic, even if spectators will not be allowed into the circuits.

"We have to succeed in restarting," he insists. "We have to have something to show people.

"It's too bad if it's without people, and if the situation improves, we can bring the spectators back.

"If we are tested properly, like every three days, if we do things right, it will be fine. But that is a lot of ifs," Ocon acknowledged.

"Because if we resume and a case is revealed, we risk cancelling for six months. It's important that we start racing again, but we have to think about our safety."

Another French driver, Romain Grosjean, commented: "I hope to go back to Paul Ricard in 2021 with fewer problems on the planet."

ID:397820: cacheID:397820:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2715:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Esteban Ocon pictured on October 4, 2018
Read Next:
Ocon not better than Hulkenberg - Sirotkin
>
rhs 2.0


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!