Esteban Ocon has plunged the rumour mill in to full swing after changing his social media handle from "Test Driver" to "Formula 1 Driver". Due to Esteban's links to Mercedes, being a Mercedes Young Driver as well as being their test and reserve driver, many believe he may be in contention of Valtteri Bottas' Mercedes race seat for 2020. Although, whispers suggest the Frenchman may be joining the French team on the grid, Renault...
Social Media is a huge tool in todays society, for Formula 1 it connects fans to the drivers, but it can also reveal a few secrets yet to be told... Esteban Ocon's social media suggests he may be racing in yellow colours for the 2020 season, after changing his social media handle as well as following Renault on the major social networking channels. Additionally, the Frenchman was also seen filming with the Netflix documentary: Drive To Survive Season 2.
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Ocon has been out of Formula 1 for a year now, after being dropped by Racing Point, he was however appointed as Mercedes test and reserve driver for this current season. Toto Wolff, Mercedes Team Principle, has been influential in the young Frenchman's career, although, last season Toto, Renault and Esteban had a "gentleman's agreement" that Esteban would race in yellow for this current season... But this was all before a certain Honey Badger, Daniel Ricciardo, was signed for 2019 onwards. So, would this be Renault and Wolff sticking to their agreement of 2018?
If this is the case, how would the rest of the grid shuffle? Esteban Ocon would partner Daniel Ricciardo due to the Australians four-year contract, leaving his current teammate, Nico Hulkenberg, without a drive for 2020. Although, as the rumour mill goes, Nico could be in contention for a race seat at Haas but other whispers place him at Mercedes...
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Gunther Steiner, Haas Team Principle, is notoriously unhappy with his current driver pairing of Romian Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen due to their endless clashing and crashing this season. So, could this mean a seat in the American team will be vacant for a young German, Nico Hulkenberg, for 2020?
Esteban Ocon's return would leave a driver without a seat for next year... But who could that be?
Most bets are being placed on one of the Haas drivers, mostly Romain Grosjean due to the countless number of crashes with non other than his teammate, Kevin Magnussen. Either way, teammates crashing is detrimental to such a small team which has resulted in them being 9th in the constructors standings, whilst last year they were 5th.
With Esteban Ocon looking increasingly more likely to make his Formula 1 return at Renault will this put the Frenchman out of contention for a Mercedes drive in the future? Or will it give him the opportunity to showcase his talents to those necessary?
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