Official: Esteban Ocon confirmed at Renault for 2020
After several days of persistent rumors, Renault has just officially announced the arrival of French driver Esteban Ocon for the next season. Nico Hülkenberg is thus being thanked by the French team after three seasons of collaboration.
A year after the setback during the summer break, which saw him lose his seat this season following Renault’s announcement of Daniel Ricciardo’s arrival, the 22-year-old from Normandy will finally find a spot on the grid next season: « First of all, I want to say that I am proud to become a Renault driver. I grew up in Enstone, with Lotus since 2010, and then with Renault. Also, I am happy that a team with great ambitions trusts me and gives me the opportunity to show my skills at the highest level that is Formula 1. »
This outcome was of little doubt, especially since Mercedes had taken the lead during the day by officially confirming that they were retaining Valtteri Bottas for an additional season. During the German Grand Prix, Toto Wolff did not hide that he knew if he did not take the step to appoint Esteban Ocon to the team, the latter would look elsewhere.
It is indeed the case as he has committed for the next two seasons with the French team. To find a trace of a French driver defending the colors of the constructor, one must go back to the end of the 2009 season when Romain Grosjean made his F1 debut in the midst of the Crashgate crisis. He could thus be the big loser in the operation since Ocon’s arrival means the departure of Nico Hülkenberg because Daniel Ricciardo had signed for several seasons.
The German will certainly leverage his extensive experience to vie for one of the seats at the Haas team, as he has been associated with mid-field teams since the start of his career. The collaboration with Kevin Magnussen is set to be explosive.
From our special correspondent in Spa-Francorchamps
