Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.
Esteban Ocon could be looking at a move to the World Endurance Championship with Formula 1 options apparently drying up, Sky F1’s Craig Slater taking Mercedes off the table.
Alpine is currently in the hunt for a new F1 2025 driver as Ocon’s departure from the team was confirmed for the end of the ongoing season. The question now remains whether he will find an opportunity to extend his Formula 1 career by securing a new team.
Esteban Ocon to Mercedes ‘not going to happen’
Additional reporting by Thomas Maher
A graduate of the Mercedes Junior Team, Ocon had been speculated as an option for the Silver Arrows as they search for Lewis Hamilton’s replacement, the seven-time World Champion on his way to Ferrari for 2025. But, according to Slater, that is not a possibility.
In addition to dismissing the possibility of a Williams switch, Slater narrowed down Ocon’s F1 2025 choices to Haas as the most probable option, although there are other potential contenders as well.
Slater expressed that Ocon faces a challenging situation. Ocon is somewhat guided by Toto Wolff, who holds the position of team boss at Mercedes. However, if Wolff intended to replace Lewis Hamilton with Ocon, he would have already done so. It is clear that such a scenario is not going to occur.
As I’ve been doing my rounds, it appears that Esteban Ocon is currently facing limited opportunities, with most doors seemingly closed for him.
Could he possibly have a chance to compete for the Audi seat? Carlos Sainz has received an offer, but he is undecided between accepting it or potentially going to Williams. In recent weeks, Williams has emerged as a strong contender for securing Sainz’s agreement.
Sainz holds a significant position as an unsigned driver, meaning his actions will influence other teams in their decision-making process, potentially affecting the availability of seats at Audi or Williams. However, I do not believe Ocon is a viable choice for Williams.
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Ocon’s best opportunity to remain in F1 currently lies with Haas. He is among several drivers being considered for a seat at the team.
Based on my understanding, it is highly likely that Oliver Bearman will be driving for Haas next year. This would leave Haas with options such as Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon, and possibly Kevin Magnussen, who has a slim chance of retaining his position.
If Ocon wants to continue his career in Formula 1, Haas currently seems to be his best opportunity. However, if that doesn’t work out, he will most likely shift to the World Endurance Championship to continue his journey as a driver.
During the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Ocon hinted at his potential as a future Mercedes F1 2025 contender while discussing his ongoing partnership with the team in an interview with media outlets such as PlanetF1.com.
He stated, “I still consider myself a Mercedes junior in terms of the management side, and that has remained unchanged since 2015.”
“We are engaged in extensive discussions to determine the optimal path for my future.”
Currently, Ocon and his Alpine teammate, Pierre Gasly, are determined to assist their team in bouncing back from a sluggish beginning to the 2024 F1 season. Both drivers have managed to secure a single point so far.
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