Ocon boosted by revised seating position

The Frenchman has had difficulties fitting his long frame inside the cockpit, and had to endure the steering wheel brushing on his legs

However, Manor has worked on getting him more comfortable and has managed to fit him better, which he believes has been a big help.

"I am sitting better, I have a better position," said the Frenchman. "The team did a great job with this.

"We have reached the limit but now it is much better, and I am much more comfortable in the car. It just feels easier for physical races like Malaysia. It was important to get it right.

"It is comfort but also I don't have a problem with steering. Before it was touching my leg and now it is not a problem any more.

"It is not interfering, so it makes sense. When you need to feel the car properly without anything it is easier."

Sauber target

Although Ocon outqualified teammate Pascal Wehrlein for the first time in Malaysia last weekend, he said that his main focus was on beating Sauber.

"For sure we improved massively regarding all the reorganisation of the team and how we work now," he said.

"We did a great weekend compared to the beginning of my season, and now we are pretty happy with this.

"But it is not the target to beat Pascal. For us it is to beat the Saubers and the importance is to do a good job, be satisfied and extract the maximum we can from the car."

When asked about the chances of beating Sauber at Suzuka, he said: "It will be tough. Let's see – we have a few things to test. Not major.

"It will improve our balance and our feeling. But it will very little the gain we have, if we have a gain. Opportunities – there will be opportunities. We have to take them."