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The double world champion will be the second
oldest driver after Alfa Romeo's 41-year-old Kimi Raikkonen and
last month had jaw surgery after a collision with a car while
cycling in Switzerland.
Ocon, 24, said he had been impressed by the Spaniard's
performance in post-season testing last December and had no
doubt he would be hard to beat.
"What we have seen with Fernando in Abu Dhabi is that he doesn't
look like a 39-year-old and he doesn't drive like a
39-year-old," he told reporters ahead of the launch of the
team's 2021 car.
"So trust me, he will be ready and he will be performing at top
level. No doubt he will be strong but I will do my best against
him and push him as hard as I can."
Alonso, who has replaced departed Australian Daniel Ricciardo,
won his titles with Renault in 2005 and 2006 and many of the
people who worked with him then are still at the Enstone
factory.
The Spaniard's Formula One career, with 32 race wins, started in
2001 and includes stints at McLaren and Ferrari.
Ocon has yet to stand on the top step of the podium but he said
Alonso would not be favoured in the team.
"He's obviously a great champion but the team is going to listen
to me as well," said the Frenchman. "And I have the experience
of the car from last year, we know the way that we have to
develop it and at the moment Fernando says the same things.
"He brings his opinion and it's not too dissimilar. The team is
trusting me for what I'm giving, for the feedback I'm giving,
what we want to achieve basically. It's not because Fernando is
coming that all the development is going to be his side.
"That's not the policy of the team and it will stay like that."
The season starts in Bahrain on March 28 after three days of
testing from March 12-14.
(This story corrects to change 2020 to 2021 in paragraph four)
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Christian Radnedge)
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