Esteban Ocon met Marvel superstar Anthony Mackie just before the Hungarian Grand Prix at the Hungaroring, creating an unexpected fan moment. The Haas driver expressed his admiration as the two connected during the race weekend, highlighting a rare crossover between motorsport and Hollywood.
Haas F1 shared a video capturing the interaction between Ocon and Mackie, who is widely known for his role as Sam Wilson, also called The Falcon, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Captain America films. Ocon appeared genuinely thrilled to meet the American actor, showcasing his genuine appreciation for Mackie.
The conversation between the two reflected mutual respect and shared interests, rooted in both motorsport and entertainment worlds.
Highlights from the Conversation Between Ocon and Mackie
During their brief exchange, Ocon admitted:
“I’m a huge fan. A bit nervous.”
Anthony Mackie warmly replied,
“This guy, nice to meet you.”
Ocon then welcomed Mackie to the racing venue:
“Welcome, welcome to our home. Good to see you man, I’m a huge fan.”
Mackie responded by sharing his own appreciation for the sport:
“No, I’m a huge fan. I was telling him, I was like, I think he won here in 2022. They were like, no, 2021.”
Ocon clarified the details:
“Yes, I won here. Very good point. So you were watching F1 back then or?”
Mackie wrapped up with a nostalgic note:
“I’ve been an F1 fan since… Back in the day. Before you were even born.”
Notably, Ocon secured his first and only F1 victory at the Hungaroring in 2021, while racing for Alpine alongside Fernando Alonso. His win famously denied Lewis Hamilton the race victory that day, marking a defining moment in Ocon’s career.
Ocon’s Struggles in Hungarian GP Qualifying Reflect Challenges for Haas
Just days after this exciting encounter, Ocon faced difficulties during qualifying at the Hungarian GP, securing 18th place on the grid. Speaking to Sky Sports after the session, he reflected on his performance with thoughtful honesty.
“It was a disappointing session really, especially after that lap, I was expecting more. We need to investigate exactly why, as in Spa we were performing well, but here after FP1 we’ve struggled quite a lot to have decent performance.”
He added,
“It shouldn’t be the case, but I was happy with my performance and my lap. It’s disappointing to be that far down the order, so we need to give it a better shot of understanding and getting a read on the issue.”
Ocon’s teammate, Oliver Bearman, showed comparatively stronger pace, qualifying 11th after narrowly missing out in Q2 by 0.007 seconds behind Gabriel Bortoleto. In the current Drivers’ Championship standings, Ocon is positioned 10th with 27 points accumulated across 13 races and three sprint events, while Bearman sits 18th with eight points.
Haas holds ninth place in the Constructors’ Championship with 35 points amidst a challenging season.
Significance of the Moment and Looking Forward
The meeting between Esteban Ocon and Anthony Mackie highlights a unique bonding moment that transcends their respective professions, bringing attention to the human side of Formula 1 drivers beyond the racetrack. Ocon’s fandom of Mackie adds depth to his persona, while Mackie’s longtime interest in F1 underlines the global appeal of the sport.
While Ocon’s qualifying results at the Hungaroring were below expectations, such off-track moments can provide a boost to morale. Haas and Ocon will aim to address their performance issues and improve race day outcomes as the season progresses toward its final rounds.
