14:36 – Esteban Ocon says he has been encouraged by the improvements he has been able to make through the course of his first full year in Formula 1 with Force India.
Mercedes protégé Ocon, following back-to-back titles in Formula 3 and GP3, graduated to Formula 1 midway through 2016 with Manor, and captured a seat at Force India for 2017.
Ocon scored points in 18 of the 20 Grands Prix this year, retiring just once, and scored the same amount of points as team-mate Sergio Pérez from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards.
Ocon ultimately wound up eighth in the standings, with 87 points, 13 points down on Pérez, as Force India comfortably secured fourth place in the Constructors’ battle.