Esteban Ocon joined Renault/Alpine in 2020 and has been with the team ever since.
Esteban Ocon has again raised the possibility that he could switch to Mercedes as he declared himself a “Mercedes junior” in his mind.
While the Frenchman currently races for Alpine, he maintains strong connections with the Brackley squad, thanks to team principal Toto Wolff acting as his manager. Therefore, a potential return to the team cannot be ruled out.
Esteban Ocon hints at possible Mercedes return
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
After securing victories in the 2014 F3 European Championship and the 2015 GP3 Series, Ocon was granted a spot in the prestigious Mercedes academy. In 2019, he assumed the role of the team’s reserve driver.
After successfully securing a full-time position with Renault in 2020, he is now rumored to be considering a return to Brackley as the Silver Arrows seek a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
When questioned about his connection with the team, Ocon suggested that their bond was stronger than what many believed, and he still views himself as a Mercedes junior.
“I still consider myself a Mercedes junior,” he informed the media present in Imola, which included PlanetF1.com. “The management aspect has remained unchanged since 2015.”
“We are engaging in extensive discussions to determine the most favorable path for my future.”
When asked about the potential conflict of interest between driving for one team while being associated with another team that has an available seat, Ocon did not completely agree. However, he expressed his desire to avoid spending another season without being actively involved in racing.
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He responded, “Let’s reconsider that; I believe that isn’t the current subject. Certainly, there are many things going on in the background, not just searching for a long-term agreement, but also considering the short term.”
“In Formula 1, circumstances can swiftly alter, but it is crucial to secure oneself at the earliest opportunity. This has consistently been my explicit objective.”
“I wish to avoid experiencing the same costly outcome as what occurred at the conclusion of 2018, as it was an unpleasant memory unrelated to performance issues.”
“I believe I have performed well this year, as well as throughout my time in F1, making me deserving of a continued place in the sport.”
“We’ll see. Currently, I am completely focused on this team and fully committed to it. I have been involved in the project for years, which is evident. However, in Formula 1, being without a deal is a challenging and undesirable situation that I have never liked. So, the sooner it is resolved, the better.”
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