Esteban Ocon explains that he has maintained strong ties with Mercedes

This will be one of the highlights of F1 in 2024. Mercedes has a seat available for the 2025 season. With Lewis Hamilton’s confirmation at Ferrari, the Silver Arrows are now obliged to find a new teammate for George Russell.

Since this announcement, rumors are swirling. Will Toto Wolff opt for a rookie, the move of Carlos Sainz, or a return of Valtteri Bottas? Nothing is certain in the season leading up to Lewis Hamilton’s departure.

Among the rumors fueling F1, the case of Esteban Ocon comes up regularly. The Frenchman is under contract with Alpine until the end of 2024. Therefore, he is a tangible candidate from a contractual point of view. Additionally, Ocon is a driver from the Mercedes program. He underwent his training under their guidance. Furthermore, Esteban Ocon claims to still have strong ties with the three-pointed star brand.

“I have always had strong ties with Mercedes,” declared the winner of the 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix. “I have been a driver in the Mercedes Academy and I am still under contract with them for certain things. We will see what happens. For now, I am completely focused on Alpine.”

Do not repeat the case 2019.

Despite the opportunity that presents itself at Mercedes, Esteban Ocon prefers to remain focused on the 2024 season. The 27-year-old athlete will be out of contract in 2024. Therefore, even if he has the opportunity to commit wherever he wants, there is no guarantee that he will stay in Formula 1. The Normandy native has already experienced a year without Formula 1.

At the end of the 2018 season with Racing Point, Esteban Ocon had not found a new team. The Frenchman settled for a reserve driver position with Mercedes in 2019 before making his comeback with Renault in 2020. The Alpine driver does not want history to repeat itself and intends to make a statement on the track.

“I have to do a good job on the track, as always,” stated Esteban Ocon. “Every year is a crucial year in F1 because it doesn’t matter if you have a contract or not. If you’re not good, you can be eliminated. That’s just how it is. If you do a good job, there will always be discussions, rumors, and good things for you. As long as people are talking about you, it means that what you’re doing on the track is good.”

Pierre Gasly was aware of the Ferrari-Hamilton discussions.

Esteban Ocon was surprised by Lewis Hamilton’s announcement at Ferrari. As a former member of Mercedes, the Frenchman couldn’t imagine the six-time World Champion leaving his long-time team. “No one expected something like this during the winter,” he confessed during the Alpine presentation ceremony.

Pierre Gasly, for his part, specified that this decision did not completely surprise him. The Normandy native even said that he was informed about the discussions between the two parties. “I was aware of some discussions with Ferrari,” explained the former AlphaTauri driver. “He is towards the end of his career, so it was now or never. I think it has been kept as a secret for quite some time. I just wish him the best. He is the most successful driver of all time and he is joining a new project. I am sure everyone will be following this very closely.”

The two Frenchmen from Alpine will be out of contract at the end of the 2024 season.