Ocon turned down offers outside F1

Si Esteban Ocon remains in the race to support George Russell in 2019 at Williams, the Norman also had time to prepare for the possibility of a white season next year. Asked if he had been approached to ride in other championships, Ocon acknowledged the existence of tracks while ruling out the possibility of responding favorably.

« I could ride somewhere else for sure, but I don’t think I’m going to., replied the 22-year-old pilot. If I don't compete in F1 in 2019, I will choose to stay close to Mercedes with the aim of gaining as much experience as possible by working closely with them. It's the only thing I can do to stay fit and close to F1. 

I don't think I have much to gain elsewhere, knowing that I've done it in the past. Before my promotion to F1, I went to do some DTM and it allowed me to learn a lot. I don’t think the situation is similar today because I have two and a half seasons of experience. I have no intention of racing in other series. There have been discussions with several teams but I will not go into details. We chose not to follow up ».

In the event of failure with Williams, Ocon will most likely be named Mercedes reserve, shared with Force India, and hopes to have the opportunity to file the tarmac as often as possible in testing. 

« You have to drive, there are no other options, he added. The simulator is one thing but nothing replaces the track so it would be ideal to do some testing. If I don't start, I think I'll be able to cover quite a few kilometers in testing.

The positive in all of this is that I can count on the support of Mercedes, who are trying to find solutions during this difficult period. They didn’t leave me to fend for myself. If I can learn from the best team, that would be the best thing possible for a full-time return in 2020 ».

At Mercedes alongside Lewis Hamilton ?