Esteban Ocon will take a step back at Mercedes

In a sport where the smallest scraps of information are jealously guarded, it was hard to imagine Esteban Ocon, future holder Renault, continue to receive updates on the development of the current Silver Arrow and its successor in 2020.

Toto wolff confirmed it on the sidelines of the Italian Grand Prix, explaining that the in-house reserve had entered a transition phase. “He is in our simulator and plays a vital role in helping us progress the car, but his involvement will fade over time, said the Austrian manager.

He will attend meetings less and less, especially those which concern next season and deal with sensitive data in terms of engineering and innovation. But he is still with us this season and we need him to win championships. »

The conclusion of the European season marks for Ocon the end of the long Friday evenings spent in the simulator to optimize the settings of the Mercedes based on the data recorded during free practice.

More information, including our interview with Esteban Ocon, can be found in AUTO issue 2233hebdo, available now in digital version and on newsstands.