Mercedes ready to let another team “develop Ocon”

It’s not just in the air of Baden-Württemberg that temperatures soar. On the transfer market too, the mercury has been rising in recent days. The future ofEsteban Ocon, this is the hot issue of the transfer window. While we thought the Frenchman was potentially sailing towards the shores of Renault replacing Nico Hulkenberg, the German announced Thursday at Hockenheim that he had “ good chances » to continue his adventure in Yellow and Black next year.

Victim of a three-cushion billiard hit last summer, Ocon found himself on the sidelines and took on the costume of a reservist at Mercedes, who has supported him since the beginning of 2015. The Normand knows, however, that he cannot stay in this super-replacement role forever or risk seeing the train leave for good. The 22-year-old young man naturally dreams of a place within the Étoile factory team where the option of Valtteri Bottas has not yet been officially activated. 

Toto wolff explained this Friday that Mercedes would address the issue of drivers after the Hungarian Grand Prix, during the traditional summer break, while the gray house had confirmed Lewis Hamilton and Bottas for 2019 at Hockenheim last year. 

« We want to make the best decision for the team in the long term, that is to say beyond 2020., justified the Austrian manager. There are several factors to take into account; it takes time. Not so long ago, it was not uncommon to wait until the end of the season before processing these files. We will decide in August ». 

Relaunched on the subject of the future of Ocon, Wolff came out with his usual skill, made of long convoluted answers where everyone can perceive what they want to hear. 

« Esteban is a great part of the team; he does a lot of work behind the scenes and contributes to the team's performance by working in the simulator on Friday night, declared the boss of the Silver Arrows. Valtteri is delivering an excellent season with very solid performances but we also know the talent of Esteban. Afterwards, it is true that his profile interests other teams. If we were to keep Valtteri, perhaps we would then have to accept the idea of ​​seeing someone else develop Esteban for one or two years, with the consequences that could have ». 

Once again, Ocon finds himself with several potential opportunities on the table in the heart of summer. Let's hope for the former champion of Formula 3 Europe (2014) and GP3 Series (2015) that this time he will not find himself without a seat when the little music of transfers has stopped.