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Unus Alladin

Young Frenchman Esteban Ocon doesn't mind Formula One-bound Max Verstappen being the centre of attention at next weekend's Macau Grand Prix. It just gives Ocon more of a chance to complete "unfinished" business in his second appearance at the Guia circuit.
Verstappen will be the youngest Formula One driver in history when he takes his seat at Toro Rosso in 2015, but with fame comes scrutiny as he makes his maiden Macau appearance.
Already, pressure is mounting on Verstappen, whose team have denied requests for interviews in the run-up to Macau as they try to protect their young prodigy from the excitement surrounding the 17-year-old Dutchman.
That Verstappen is the superstar in waiting suits Ocon fine for the Normandy-born 18-year-old driver will have fewer distractions and can focus on the task at hand.

	If the opportunity arises to race in Formula One in 2015 or 2016, I will be ready

	Esteban Ocon
Ocon is no slouch himself having had two F1 test drives for Lotus and Ferrari last month, and the French teenager feels securing an F1 ride is just around the corner.
He beat Verstappen on his way to overall victory in the FIA European Formula Three Championship (the mercurial Dutchman finished third).
"It's very good to have him [Verstappen] here this year as it will give even more media exposure to the Macau Grand Prix," said Ocon, one of the hottest driving prospects in the sport, who will wear the SJM Theodore Racing colours next weekend.
"Max is just another competitor I have to beat during the weekend. We have known each other since we raced go-karts as kids and it will be our last F3 race together. I have beaten him this season and I will do my best to beat him again."
In 2013, bad luck scuppered Ocon's hopes of winning the 60th edition of the world-famous Macau race after his engine stalled at the start, although he managed to work his way up the grid and finish 10th overall. That was his first Formula Three race, and although pleased with his performance, he was disappointed with the result.

"I started 10th and after I stalled on the grid I was last after the first lap. I managed to overtake many cars and finish 10th, which for me was disappointing. A top-five place would have been more satisfying, even a podium place. I will have my revenge this year," he laughs.
"I am more confident, but you cannot be too confident about Macau. You have to go step by step. The grand prix is on Sunday and you can lose a lot [of ground] during qualifying. It is so important to get a top-five starting grid position. From there, you can fight for victory.
"It was really nice to drive in Macau last year. I think we'll be quicker this year and it will be very interesting to see how we compare with the Volkswagens [Verstappen will be in a Dallara F314 Volkswagen-Spiess]. For sure it will be a strong fight.
"It's an honour to wear the Theodore Racing colours and I will do my best to try and repeat Alexander Lynn's victory for the team last year," he said.
Ocon described the circuit as one of the most interesting and challenging tracks he has encountered.
"Every driver I know has competed in Formula Three in Macau and there are several drivers now in F1 who would love to race there again. It has a unique atmosphere," he said.
Apart from winning this season's European Formula Three championship with the Italy-based Prema Powerteam, Ocon made huge impressions on the Lotus and Ferrari teams in his two F1 tests last month.
"My goal is to win every weekend. I didn't really think about winning the European F3 championship [during the season] but I was focused on doing my best every race meeting.
"Then I realised I could actually win the event at Imola [Italy, in the penultimate leg] which was really special for me because my team, Prema Powerteam, is Italian. So we won the overall championship, the rookie championship [Ocon competed as a rookie] and the team championship. We couldn't have scripted it better!"

For winning the championship, he was awarded a test drive with Ferrari. A week earlier, he tested at Valencia, where Hong Kong's Adderly Fong Cheun-yue made his historic F1 drive with Sauber.
"It's always very special to drive an F1 car. I have been a Lotus F1 junior driver since 2010, so it was an amazing feeling to test the Lotus E20 with team members who I have known since I was four years old.
"Reacquainting with drivers like Ayao Komatsu, who is Romain Grosjean's engineer, and seeing Alan Permane [Lotus' operations director] who has worked with Fernando Alonso, Michael Schumacher and Kimi Raikkonen, was great.
"The test went very well and I hope to drive again for the team soon. The Ferrari test was in Fiorano [Italy] and driving a Ferrari F1 was definitely a unique feeling.
"I was focused on my driving and tried not to let my emotions get in the way. Doing a test is just one step towards becoming an F1 driver.
"The day I make it on the F1 grid for my first start will be probably more exciting.
"From what I understand, Adderly did well during the Sauber test, but I have no idea about his lap times and we didn't use the same tyres. Adderly looked quick and didn't make any mistakes."
Even if he doesn't make it to F1 next year, he has time on his side - and bags of talent.
"Yes, I turned 18 in September, but I have been driving since I was four years old, so if the opportunity arises to race in Formula One in 2015 or 2016, I will be ready," he said.
Among the other top competitors Ocon will face in Macau are Japanese racer Kenta Yamashita; China's Martin Cao Hongwei, the first Chinese winner of the British F3 championship, and Carlin's Tom Blomqvist of Britain - the son of 1984 Swedish world rally champion Stig Blomqvist - who finished second to Ocon in the European F3 championship. And for now, Ocon is content to join them in Verstappen's shadow.


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Opportunity knocks for Esteban Ocon in Macau

 Esteban Ocon believes he will be quicker this time round at the Macau GP. Photo: SMP Pictures

Formula One-bound Max Verstappen will be the centre of attention at the Macau GP, but that suits Esteban Ocon. Photo: AFP

Esteban Ocon, the European Formula Three champion, is set to make an impact at the Macau Grand Prix. Photo: SMP Pictures

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Mercurial F1-bound talent Max Verstappen is the name on everyone's lips, but a young Frenchman is quietly preparing for his own shot at victory
