Mercedes won't get in the way of Ocon/Renault deal

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that Esteban Ocon would be available to join Renault next season while still remaining part of the Silver Arrows' junior programme. The Frenchman has been heavily linked with a move to Renault in recent weeks.

Ocon became a young Mercedes driver in 2015, and has since gone on to take part in 41 F1 Grands Prix. In 2017, he joined Force India, however the Silverstone-based squad entered administration last weekend, casting doubt over its future.

If Ocon was to join Renault, the 21-year-old would more than likely take Carlos Sainz's place at the team, who has been linked with McLaren. Mercedes chief Wolff says he would welcome any opportunity to allow his young driver to grow and develop before he's ready for promotion. 

"We picked Esteban up when Gravity fell apart, and the first team that he was actually associated with was Renault. We at the time had just started our junior programme and it just felt right with Pascal (Wehrlein) and Esteban to give them a go,” said Wolff to Crash.net.

“To date, we are trying to set them a path that eventually will make them very successful long-term; put then a position to be world champions maybe one day. But with Valtteri and Lewis we have a line-up that is stable, that works for us, and at that stage there is no opportunity within Mercedes.

"If has an opportunity somewhere else to be successful as a racing driver and another team or constructor to be successful, we wouldn’t want to stand in the way."

Fergal Walsh